How to fly fast (Spit 1a/2a)?

[nakedsquirrel]

Make sure you disable the boost cut-out, and also: Drop your pitch.

[paxNoctis]

Originally Posted by nakedsquirrel

Make sure you disable the boost cut-out, and also: Drop your pitch.

So less pitch = more speed? Should I stay at full throttle? When do I want to increase my prop pitch then? (sorry I'm sure these are terribly obvious questions).

Also, how do I disable the boost cut-out? Is the the WEP toggle?

[ATAG_Snapper]

Originally Posted by paxNoctis

So less pitch = more speed? Should I stay at full throttle? When do I want to increase my prop pitch then? (sorry I'm sure these are terribly obvious questions).

Also, how do I disable the boost cut-out? Is the the WEP toggle?

Think of fine (less) pitch as 1st gear in a car; coarse (more) pitch as 5th gear. For take off you want fine pitch just as you'd want 1st gear for starting off in your car, or even for climbing a very steep hill. Once you're actually underway and picking up speed you want the prop to "bite" more air to keep increaing your speed and to hold that speed, just like the upper gears of your car.

A constant speed prop (Spit Ia & IIa, Hurri Rotol) does not act like a manual shift car's gearbox, nor like a car's automatic transmission either. As its name implies, a contant speed prop has a speed governor mechanism that works to keep the propeller turning at a constant speed which translates to the engine turning at a constant speed. This speed governor adjusts the pitch of the prop to do that. If you open the throttle (increase engine boost), the propellor pitch will coarsen slightly to maintain the engine speed you have set with your Prop Pitch Control Lever.

Here's an example: say you are flying along in level flight at 200 mph with your throttle 3/4 open (giving you engine boost of, say, 1.0 lb) and you've set your rpms to 2500 using your Prop Pitch Control Lever. Suddenly you push your throttle fully forward (wide open). What happens?

Your engine boost will suddenly increase to 6.0 lbs. The prop's speed governor will try to keep your engine speed at a contant 2500 rpms, so it will quickly coarsen your prop pitch, putting a heavier load on the engine in so doing. The rpms stay at 2500, but now -- because the coarser prop pitch is taking a bigger bite of air --- your speed suddenly increases. You'll also find yourself climbing unless you adjust your elevator pitch, and you'll be rotating to the left because of greater engine torque. Once you've gotten yourself trimmed back to level flight you'll notice you're travelling faster. Much faster. Enough to catch a bomber!

[paxNoctis]

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Think of fine (less) pitch as 1st gear in a car; coarse (more) pitch as 5th gear. For take off you want fine pitch just as you'd want 1st gear for starting off in your car, or even for climbing a very steep hill. Once you're actually underway and picking up speed you want the prop to "bite" more air to keep increaing your speed and to hold that speed, just like the upper gears of your car.

A constant speed prop (Spit Ia & IIa, Hurri Rotol) does not act like a manual shift car's gearbox, nor like a car's automatic transmission either. As its name implies, a contant speed prop has a speed governor mechanism that works to keep the propeller turning at a constant speed which translates to the engine turning at a constant speed. This speed governor adjusts the pitch of the prop to do that. If you open the throttle (increase engine boost), the propellor pitch will coarsen slightly to maintain the engine speed you have set with your Prop Pitch Control Lever.

Here's an example: say you are flying along in level flight at 200 mph with your throttle 3/4 open (giving you engine boost of, say, 1.0 lb) and you've set your rpms to 2500 using your Prop Pitch Control Lever. Suddenly you push your throttle fully forward (wide open). What happens?

Your engine boost will suddenly increase to 6.0 lbs. The prop's speed governor will try to keep your engine speed at a contant 2500 rpms, so it will quickly coarsen your prop pitch, putting a heavier load on the engine in so doing. The rpms stay at 2500, but now -- because the coarser prop pitch is taking a bigger bite of air --- your speed suddenly increases. You'll also find yourself climbing unless you adjust your elevator pitch, and you'll be rotating to the left because of greater engine torque. Once you've gotten yourself trimmed back to level flight you'll notice you're travelling faster. Much faster. Enough to catch a bomber!

AHA! I watched a youtube video that went into the differences between a constant speed prop and a variable pitch prop. I was assuming that I was actually controlling prop-pitch directly when in fact I was just setting the "target" RPM. I think this (as well as the great advice given upthread by others) should get me taking down those pesky bombers. Can't wait to get home from work and give it a try.

Thanks guys!

[ATAG_Snapper]

You're doing your due diligence -- good on ya, mate!

As you've just seen, we all fly 'em a little differently. Evangeluse was so right in saying get altitude. Speed and energy is life -- as you probably well know, especially with these prop jobs.

Hope to see you online one of these days. Pop in to the ATAG server when you have a chance.

[SEE]

In SP missions, the Bombers are AI and generally set to fly flat out without suffering the problems of CEM.
Also, the default loadout is not much use as it uses Observer rounds and Tracers. The observer rounds do nothing except give you the impression you are causing damage but cause none whatsoever. Change your loadout - plenty of threads on effective loadouts can be found in the forum by doing a search.

The rest is down to technique and gunnery practice - knowing the blind spots of each of the Axis Bombers and where to aim, etc.

[Yellow14150]

Hi and welcome to ClOD.

Another thing about these WW2 fighters that can't be stressed enough if energy management. Learning to make the best of your energy and keep it high is one of the best things you could learn. I'd be glad to give you tips online whenever you want. I usually fly on ATAG #1 Server and am competent enough to get you in the air in anything (even the Fiat G.50). I like teaching so anything you see me on (yellow14) feel free to drop me a line.

P.S. I am going to get DCS A-10 soon and definitely have some questions if you don't mind. Feel free to PM me. Also go to the ATAG forums and come on TeamSpeak. People will always give you pointers. 5 PM PST is always good.

[jf1981]

Originally Posted by paxNoctis

So less pitch = more speed? Should I stay at full throttle? When do I want to increase my prop pitch then? (sorry I'm sure these are terribly obvious questions).

Also, how do I disable the boost cut-out? Is the the WEP toggle?

Hi

You can notice that boost decreases as rpm rises above 2650 rpm or a little more.
This may be one reason why 2700 rpm is one of the best setting for max speed.

[SEE]

Altitude!

The SpitMk1a is short on legs regards top speed compared to the Hurricane as currently modelled. Altitude is essential but may be the following will also help.

Apart from Trim and avoiding Tight turns, set your Prop Pitch to give a comfortable 2700 RPM with Radiator partially shut - throttle does not need to be flat out - watch the exhaust colour and try to match throttle to give blue not orange - your engine will last all day long with those settings but keep an eye on coolant temp anyway. The Spits and Hurris need constant adjustment to trim relative to speed so keep an eye open. In combat you will need to go full throttle but open the rad fully to compensate for increased temps as required.

Fly Straight and level untill you get some momentum and airspeed of at least 200mph then start climbing but do not bleed too much airspeed by climbing too steeply.

Once you have some altitude you will find that you keep a lot of the energy and airspeed gained when dropping down and climbing again but avoid tight turns or violent maneouvres.

Forget the boost - it does nothing -yet! As for PP, this is a CSP Rotol unit and the objective is too keep the Merlin in the most efficient powerband - depending on Cruise or Combat setting. For Combat set PP for around 2700 RPM - Max RPM of 3000 is an engine killer and should only be used briefly.