Collaborative effort please! - Let's write out correct engine ops. Spitfire I
 

Hi all,

I have long wanted to do a super-correct "engine-start-up, take-off, climb and landing"-movie. The only problem is, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to flying the planes in CoD. I more or less manage to fly, but I'm certainly not doing it correctly, as you can see in my movies!

So, I was hoping that maybe we can nail this together. If we make a Cliffs of Dover check-list that is absolutely correct, then I can assure you that I'll make the movie!

My idea is that I'll write out my best idea of the correct sequence of events here. Then all you experts will chime in, I'll amend the sequence in my first posting as we move along and then we'll get it right at some point, so it will be ready for the shoot. What do you say?

Absolutely randomly I suggest that we start with the Spitfire I.

OK, here goes:

1. Magnetos on (But both? Should I start with some other step? Canopy open? Compass?)

2. Fuel cock turned to "up" position (Or what?)

3. Throttle to idle, just above 0%

4. Radiator open (Well, it is faster to leave it closed, but what should I choose?)

5. Trims?

6. Mixture to where? Full rich, right?

7. Propeller pitch where?

...Different order to these steps?

8. Ignition!

9. Let temperatures rise (But to where?)

10. Radiator full open

11. Throttle open (but gradually?)

12. Take off (Rotation at what speed?)

13. Close canopy

14. Climb at some particular settings, but which? - Prop pitch, speed, mixture, RPM, boost settings...

15. Let's say I level out at a good, high altitude. Try to gain max. speed. Then settings for best cruise?

16. Any particular settings for descent?

17. Landing circuit.

18. Flaps down.

19. Canopy open.

19. Approach speed? Which RPM, boost?

20. Gear down.

21. Landing. Which speed? Three-pointer?

22. Taxi. Which settings?

23. Turning off everything. sequence?

- I could also have fiddled with the gunsight, but prefer to keep that in a separate tutorial movie, since it is common to all RAF crates.

OK, I am pretty sure this is more wrong than right. Could you now maybe help me get it right? - I'll incorporate proper corrections to the above list, including possible changes to the numbering of the sequence...

Thanks!

This sort of thing should be done on the AirWarfare wiki.

http://airwarfare.com/sow/index.php?...wiki&Itemid=65

this any use?
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/arc...p?t-72714.html

forgett the magnetos, they are activated automaticly in game as soon you hit 'ignition'

ingame has a few differences from r/l but following r/l practice is usually ok
but to fill in in your format:-

1- yes- but game does them auto when press start

2- up is on (axis control is reversed on spits:confused: )

3- open 1"

4-open- but can be shut ingame for quicker warm up

5- elev-1/2 div nose down, rudder full right

6-full rich

7- full fine

8-yep- hold brakes on!

9- ingame really you are looking for ~60 deg rad temp but you can go as soon as the engine will run +4lb boost without backfiring;)
while warming up is a good time to sort out gyro,altimeter,lights,gunsite etc

10-yes if shut at 4.final check of temps, pressures

11-smoothly but firmly irl- ingame smoothly to 0-2 lb boost till tail is up then to 4-6 lb for take off works for me

12-~100mph

13-gear up then hood

14- if not chasing the ai:rolleyes: ingame i use +5lb boost, 2650 rpm, rich mix, rad fully open climbing at ~180 mph. with 2 speed prop i shift at ~160mph, accelerate to ~200mph then begin climb again around 180mph.
above ~15k speed of climb reduces ~5mph per 1000ft further climb.
watch temps:!::!::!: 105 rad/90 oil are safe maximums
also retrim for climb- partic rudder

15-on reaching altitude i like to give my engine a chance to cool down a little if poss by dropping to +2lb boost and pull rpm to ~2000. mix can be run lean at this boost setting if desired. as rad temp drops below 100 try closing rad about half way for less drag. trim for level flight. should cruise at 200-220mph.
for speed mix rich 2850rpm, full boost, trim rudder/elev as nec as speed builds. watch temps. if you use 3000rpm,boost cut out watch temps even more. open rads,drop power /rpm as required

16-irl you would close rad and keep some power on to keep up engine temps- ingame this will fry your engine so just keep it open:rolleyes:

17-traditional was a curved approach to maintain view till last minute,. before this landing checks: speed 150, pitch full fine, mix rich, rad open,boost ~0lb, trim1 div up elev,little or no rudder,this on downwind leg, wheels down 140 as pass landing point

18-120 as come crosswind add elev up trim

19- before 17

20- as above

21- i aim to cross boundary at ~90mph with a little throttle on to reduce descent rate. flare into a 3 pointer-watch the float.on landing keep stick back and keep her straight. when slowed down some ,flaps up possibly dabbing brakes if needed

22-i use little bursts of power and constant weaving to see past the nose

23-irl shutdown mattered, when parked run engine up enough to move prop pitch to coarse and pull slow running cutout until engine stops.then fuel off, mags off, switch of all ancilliary electrics. ingame just kill fuel then mags

24- report to co for tea and medals:-P

OK, collaborative effort called off, because Flea's PDF definitely seems to be all I need. He really expanded it since I last saw it! Kudos, fantastic job.

Just a question though. Can I actually DO all the actions written in black in the procedures pages (green)? If yes, well, then I had no idea... :-O

Thanks for your replies,

This is a great document with a huge amount of research put into it. Very nice.

One question though.....

The hurricane and spit have the same version of the merlin engine as far as I know. The hurricane notes refer to using RICH mixture for startup and takeoff but the spit notes just say NORMAL. Does anyone know what normal is? Is it rich?


EDIT: Another question comes to mind too....

The Spit I notes seem to be for the variable pitch prop. Do the pre-flight checks on the fixed pitch prop version involve cycling the pitch before takeoff - to check it works?

Thread re-opened because I had the time to go back and edit/delete off topic posts. Please don't hijack informative threads. Thanks again Frey for this topic.

Thanks katdogfizzow, btw, for posting Flea's pdf. I had no idea he had progressed so much. Amazing effort.

I'd like see your version for sure. You should make 3 total for each spit version! And explain prop pitch and mixture and the diff planes.

Have you seen this yet? Its a pretty good start up vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRex...layer_embedded

Seriously, the airwarfare wiki is a great but under-utilized resource.

If you get a comprehensive startup guide you should put it on the wiki, which is a more suitable medium than a forum thread anyways.

Jimbo's vids were of invaluable help to me when I first tried to take-off with CoD planes and failed miserably. Yeah, I really like them, but as he himself notes, he just does "what works for him". I'd like to try to get a real proper take-off going, and document the steps that must be taken, as well as the correct speeds, temps and RPM/Boost values.

Thx so much "jf1981" for the checklist you sent me by PM! hope you don't mind that I copy it out here:

SPITFIRE I/II CHECKLIST

STARTUP
RADIATOR .......................... FULLY OPEN
MIXTURE ................................. RICH
PITCH .............................. FULL FINE
THROTTLE ............................ 1/2 INCH
FUEL COCK ................................. ON
ENGINE STARTER ............................ ON

WARM UP
BOOST .......................... MAINTAIN ZERO

TAKE OFF
CANOPY .................................. OPEN
COCKPIT AND GUNSIGHT LIGHTS ............... ON
GUNSIGHT CONVERGENCE ..................... SET
ELEVATOR TAB .................... ONE NOTCH UP
RUDDER TAB ............................. RIGHT
ALTIMETER / COMPASS ...................... SET

AFTER TAKE OFF
GEAR ...................................... UP
CLIMB RPM ............................... 2850
CRUISE RPM .............................. 2650

ECONOMY CRUISE (35 GPH)
ALTITUDE .......................... >10'000 ft
MIXTURE ................................. LEAN
BOOST .................................... LOW
RPM .................................. MINIMUM
SPEED ....................... MAINTAIN 200 MPH

COMBAT 40 TO 85 GPH DEPENDING UPON BOOST
MIXTURE ................................. RICH

LANDING
MIXTURE ................................. RICH
PITCH ............................. FULLY FINE
BELOW 160 MPH ...................... GEAR DOWN
GREEN LIGHT ............................... ON
GREEN LIGHT MISSING ..... OPERATE SAFETY LEVER
BELOW 140 MPH ..................... FLAPS DOWN
APPROACH SPEED ..................... BELOW 140
FINAL SPEED ............................... 90

Guys, short q: what temps do u wait for in the Spit II warm-up? Thx!

Hurri/Spit :
As soon as the engine rune smoothly and rpm can rise > 1800 it seems safe to take off.
Apparently, min oil temp of 30°C should be safe but engine runs smoothly below that.

This is what works as of today.