Take off problems

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by Blackadder

The same thing happens every time. I take off with flaps down, I then retract the landing gear and hold steady as I start to climb. Then at about 1000 feet (maybe less) my RPM cuts out and I crash into the ground.

I have complex engine management off so I imagine that means that the game is taking care of all the engine cooling and prop pitch settings. The fact that I never run into any engine trouble when starting from the air suggests as well that that is the case.


Any idea why my engine dies like that every time I take off?

With CEM off, the airscrew or propeller automatically goes to coarse pitch almost immediately after take-off. This is why your rpm reduces significantly. There is no need to worry about the drop in rpm. But, that doesn't explain why you're falling out of the sky. Flap is not needed for take-off by the way, although it helps get off the ground with the terrible acceleration of the DH5-20 props. However, your airspeed will be lower with flaps down, so if you're pulling back on the stick and raising flaps without enough airspeed, you're stalling through lack of lift. One of the easiest mistakes to make is to simply pull back on the stick expecting to climb, without anywhere near enough airspeed. Take off with no flaps, and as soon as your wheels are up, level off and allow your airspeed to increase to 140mph. As your airspeed increases, you will start to climb quite naturally, with no need to pull on the stick. Pulling on the stick is a bad thing to do when climbing. Your forward speed will eventually generate enough lift in order to climb, as long as you give it time. These early WWII aircraft aren't rocket boosted jet propelled missiles, although sometimes, when up against E4/Ns, I wish they were. .