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

[paxNoctis]

Hi all-

I'm new to the whole WWII genre. I cut my teeth on civilian flight sims from a very early age and moved into Janes, LOMAC and the DCS series. I've spent most of my sim-time lately in the 'Hog from DCS, but something about the simplicity/complexity of these old prop-planes appeals to me, and I bought COD when it was on-sale through Steam and I've been learning it ever since. At the moment I'm running with CEM on and Temperature off (one impossible-learning-task at a time is my way), so I can fly without blowing my water radiator 5m into the flight, then having oil spew all over my cockpit. Even in this 'limited realism' mode, it's still been quite a journey. First I was stalling every time I turned until I figured out that my prop was getting all turbulent and lowered the pitch. Now I can make loops and even pull off some hammerhead-type maneuvers.

I fly the Spitfire 1a and IIa at this point because it was suggested to me on another forum as a good "starter plane". I'm not sure which one is 'better' (in the sense of speed/maneuverability), so I kind of alternate. I *finally* figured out that it wasn't a broken joystick but that the plan actually wants to bank left from torque after about 3 hours of playing and tweaking my Saitek settings; so that should give you an idea of how far behind I am in this genre.

So I loaded up the 'Bomber intercept' mission over the channel. I trim for level flight and, we're heading straight towards the incoming bombers. I execute what, by-my-pretty-lame-standards is a nice turn, not losing too much E or stalling. I come around behind them and... they just walk away from me. I've tried full throttle/pitch, I've tried varying each of the above and once I get behind them, I just can't catch up no matter what, even doing my best to stay straight and fast.

Now it may just be that in WWII bombers were faster than fighters, or I'm up against a newer generation bomber in some old, rickety fighter, I really don't know the plane classes that well. But really, I feel like I should be able to, you know, intercept bombers in a fighter pretty easily, especially when I'm coming in right behind and going all out. I assume that I'm simply not setting the aircraft for proper sprinting-speed, so I was wondering if you vets could help me figure out how to go fast in a straight line (pathetic question from a veteran sim pilot I know, but I just can't seem to get the hang of it myself).

I'd appreciate any other tips, but the main thing is... how do I go fast?

[nakedsquirrel]

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

[paxNoctis]

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?

[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.

[ATAG_Snapper]

Hi paxNoctis,

Welcome to Cliffs of Dover. :)

At least you've gotten your Spit in the air -- kudos! I'll be glad to give you the "Coles Notes" on engine management for the Spit 1a and 2a, much of this applies to the Hurricane Rotol as well.

First, turn Engine Temperature Control "ON".

When you take off, throttle should be wide open, Prop Pitch Fully Fine, Mixture Full Rich, Radiator Full Open, Flaps Up.

When you're up and climbing, immediately pull your Wheels Up, then slowly pull back your Prop Pitch control lever to drop your rpm's to 2500. Leave your throttle Wide Open (which gives you 6 lbs boost; if you took Naked Squirrel's excellent suggestion and opened the Boost Cut Out gate, you'll be at 6.5 lbs boost -- which is even better). Now close your radiator 50% (half closed/half open). This will give you your top cruising speed without blowing your engine, plus an excellent climbing rate.

The next thing is to trim -- you can use your slip and yaw gauge to judge your trim for least amount of air drag; basically just adjust your trim so that you can hold your climb, level flight, or descent with your hand literally off your stick. If you have trim wheels on your stick -- great. At the very least, be handy on the keyboard to frequently adjust trim to give you your maximum speed.

In this sim, the Spitfire IIa is fastest, followed closely by the Hurricane Rotol, followed by the Spitfire Ia as a distant third -- which is incorrect but hopefully will get fixed in the next patch.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

EDIT: Better yet, do what SEE/Evangeluse does: he has a higher kill record than I do! LOL

[ATAG_Snapper]

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]

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]

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.