Quote:
Originally Posted by Seadog
Right, so if you are being chased a swarm of Me109s, you'll let yourself be shot down rather than exceed 12lb/3000rpm for more than 5mins?
What you don't seem to be considering is that a Spitfire for example has 85 gals of fuel. TO, climb and cruise to say mid channel will consume say on average about 25 gals, and return will also require 20 gals so the max fuel allowance for combat will be about 40 gals and thus about 25mins, max, at 12lb/3000rpm. No one is going to be using 12lb/3000rpm for more than a few minutes unless there is simply no other way to stay alive, because the fuel capacity of these aircraft is severely limited.
|
EXACTLY
Most pilots would engage overboost during an emergency only. Once the danger was gone you would imediatley ease of on the power, because the next thing on your mind would be, lets not blow the engine... it's the only one I've got. Frankly, constantly saying +12lbs boost could be used without fear until the fuel ran out is ludicrous. The pilot manual and RAF memos explicity state that +12lbs boost was to be used in emergencies only and only for 5 minutes at a time. Do you think they set these limits for fun.