[Robo.]

Originally Posted by SEE

Not sure if this applies to the Hurri but from the Spit Pilot accounts I have read they only mention PP settings for combat RPM. Geoffry Wellum states a specific figure of 2650 RPM once he was at altitude. This figure was confirmed by Group Captain Peter Gilpin when I asked him about prop pitch settings when flying his Spit during the BoB. The only additional comments he made were that the Spit performed better at this RPM but he did adjust the RPM to around 2800 when using boost (in his MkV).

In MP I know a lot of players who change the PP during combat but I tend to set it for 2700RPM and leave it at that. The important thing is not to cook the Merlin by over revving it and the rated max is 3000 RPM for a brief period of time but it soon gets to critical temp.

Spit Mk.I and Hurri Mk.I have got exactly the same limits and RPM settings. Rather than pilot accounts I would suggest official Pilot's notes as they specify recommended MFP + RPM for each phase of the flight.

As for the game, this is ever so slightly off as the sim (as for now 1.05) is lacking correct modelling of overheating at alt, radiator drag etc. Merlin III was easy to cook, but the 'radiator rupture' message is quite unrealistic as there was a simple pressure valve releasing excessive pressure (steam) should your water temp become critical (easily done in RL). Also various settings are not too far off but as Osprey already stated, they would lead to overheating situations even at big alt (outside atm. pressure, but temperature and TAS)

Therefore, following info is regarding the Rotol Hurricane in the sim (1.05), not in the so called RL :

- it occurs that Mk.I Hurricane is the only plane modelling unique characteristics of every single plane leaving the factory. Especially regarding the water temp - you have to take off and see how hot she runs. Every plane is different. I haven't seen that being the case on a Spit or on a 109. This has never been confirmed by the devs, but it is quite obvious when you spend more time in a Hurricane as I happen to. It's my opinion based on experience, your results may wary.

- Take off fully warmed up at full boost (no BCC-O) and 3000RPM, then ease up to 2850 to power climb - rad fully open. At this stage, watch your water temp and you can see how she runs. If you're lucky you might get her running at higher RPM without overheating, even 2950 and temp stays around 105C. Sometimes though, you'll be struggling to get her above 2750-2800, because the temp is too high and it won't drop. Fair enough.

- Rad management - the point is high RPM = high temp = rad open = drag = your speed drops. In RL, you want to fly fast enough and high enough to keep your Merlin III cool. Extra power comes for the price of extra heat. If you have to fly with your rad fully open, it's not worth it as the extra speed you might squeez out of her at higher RPM is cancelled by the draggy radiator. You are running her hotter for no speed gain. Good compromise is setting your rad to 'normal flight' (50 percent or right in the middle) to reduce the drag and then run your RPM as high as the water temp allows you in combat. (this is more the case when chasing a 109 rather than turnfight at lower speeds). This can be anything between 2750-2850RPM depending on the machine. Careful at alt, see later.

- keep her cool while cruising, save full power for a combat situation. Then depends if you need to be fast (chasing a runner) or if you're engaged in a slower dogfight. If the fight gets vertical, I don't care about drag all that much and rad fully open and 3000RPM in a climb, full boost of course + BCC-O. Boost, RPM and water temp are the 3 gauges to be watched all the time, simple as that. When temp goes too high, open rad and take it easy with RPM.

- at alt of say 17-20k it's very difficult (quite the opposite from the reality) to keep her cool and you find it much easier to overheat. It is nearly impossible to fly at full power for longer periods of time up there. (this goes for any a/c in the sim) This I consider to be a bug and I am sure it will be fine-tuned in future patches. I try to fly her as per manual, whenever possible, but in a game (or is it a sim, I don't know ), I push it a bit furhter to get max performance as I don't need to worry about engine wear and tear.