If you experience the "prop pitch bug" in the 109E4

[CaptainDoggles]

I posted this in the bug thread but figured I might as well repost it here so it's more visible.

The bug I'm describing is the bug where if you take off in the E4, the Kommandogerat gradually decreases your prop pitch down to full coarse where it stays, keeping your RPMs down at 1500 or thereabouts and robbing you of any horsepower you might have, even at full throttle.

What I've found is that if you put it into manual mode and play around with the manual controls for a few seconds (i.e. give it a few clicks of Fine, and then a few clicks of Coarse) and then put it back into automatic mode it functions normally.

Hope this helps,

Doggles

[skouras]

thanks mate
i didn't saw this --- i've always take off in manual

[ATAG_Doc]

Toggle automatic prop pitch and as soon as you do catch your pitch from running away. EZ

[IvanK]

First up terminolgy Kommand Gerate is not fitted to the BF109 . It was a Mechanical engine control unit fiitted in the BMW801 that controlled a number of engine variables including Auto prop pitch on the FW190. The system on the 109 is a much more straight forward affair that concerns itself with Governed RPM only.

Auto prop pitch in the 109 installation was only "active" above a certain RPM (2000in the DB605 ...not 100% sure what is was on the DB601). A typical way to handle the Start Taxi Take off scenario is as follows. Start with prop pitch Full fine 12:00. Select Full throttle as RPM passes 2000 select AUTO. Personally I just take off in Manual get airborne and when the RPM gets to 2300 just select AUTO, since this is the Full throttle governed value. Coming in to land once I go back to manual and set 12:00 so max RPM in a hurry is available if required.

In general terms if you are using Max throttle then AUTO is the go imo. If you are using an intermediate setting like say a climb at 1.25ATA and dont want the commanded RPM (about 2000 in this case) then select manual and set 2300RPM for example. In combat with large TAS changes etc AUTO frees you up from sweating on the RPM.

In the end I think intelligent use of both AUTO and Manual is required to get the best out the engine.

In addition the way it seems to be mechanised in Sin is when you close the the Throttle and RPM goes below 1500 then prop fines up eventually to the 12:00 position. I guess it figures its ready for a max power application ... like in a Go Around situation etc.

[CaptainDoggles]

Okay, well you might not be experiencing the bug but some of us are.

The prop pitch never comes up if you take off in auto.

[AKA_Tenn]

just keep auto pitch off till u get ur rpms to 2300, if u decelerate or accelerate too quickly the auto pitch can't keep up and its stops workin

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

[I]What I've found is that if you put it into manual mode and play around with the manual controls for a few seconds (i.e. give it a few clicks of Fine, and then a few clicks of Coarse) and then put it back into automatic mode it functions normally.

Yep. I noticed that too. Its good workaround untill they fix the issue.

[IvanK]

"Also, it might have something to do with the way you control the prop pitch on 109. In my opinion, the usual wheel axis (0-100) on a joystick is not very suitable and I prefer my HAT (returns to the neutral center position like the real thing), that might cause some issues, too. "

Good point. Make sure you dont have a conflicting AXIS command with a push button command. A while a go I had both an axis setting for prop pitch and a couple of buttons set.
In my case the axis was the rotary on the CH fighter Stick. Unless this was left in the FULL FINE position I got weird effects. Deleting this axis assignment and all is well.

I still get the E3 Prop pitch running to Coarse on spawn, but as others say a quick blip on the Fine HOTAS button stops the prop slewing further and returns it to correct control. Same occurs in the E4 if you select Manual on spawn.

On every start I select manual, set prop to 12:00
Take off in manual when RPM gets to 2300 select AUTO (E4)

[tintifaxl]

I have the prop pitch control on the Warthog Throttle trim wheel and experience no problems with it.

[Insuber]

Originally Posted by IvanK

"Also, it might have something to do with the way you control the prop pitch on 109. In my opinion, the usual wheel axis (0-100) on a joystick is not very suitable and I prefer my HAT (returns to the neutral center position like the real thing), that might cause some issues, too. "

Good point. Make sure you dont have a conflicting AXIS command with a push button command. A while a go I had both an axis setting for prop pitch and a couple of buttons set.
In my case the axis was the rotary on the CH fighter Stick. Unless this was left in the FULL FINE position I got weird effects. Deleting this axis assignment and all is well.

I still get the E3 Prop pitch running to Coarse on spawn, but as others say a quick blip on the Fine HOTAS button stops the prop slewing further and returns it to correct control. Same occurs in the E4 if you select Manual on spawn.

On every start I select manual, set prop to 12:00
Take off in manual when RPM gets to 2300 select AUTO (E4)

"On every start I select manual, set prop to 12:00
Take off in manual when RPM gets to 2300 select AUTO (E4)". Plus, make sure that the pitch lever is set to neutral before switching to auto. This is a key point.