Thread: Oxygen
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Old 09-01-2008, 04:44 PM
Former_Older Former_Older is offline
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(shakes head)

I had thought I made it abundantly clear that I understood that O2 starvation is different for each person. I thought I had illustrated my understanding of that several times. I believe I recall mentioning actual symptoms that each person may or may not actually experience, and that it was up to each pilot to note his personal symptoms, and I think I mentioned unique circumstance for O2 starvation

I guess I may have neglected to do all those things, but damned if it doesn't also look like I posted all that. So I'm not sure where you're coming from, mondo. Why you feel you must point that out as if I was not aware is something I cannot understand

As far as not bothering to model it, O2 use was a very vital aspect of flight in WWII. It was as critical as weather and combat. You feel that the entire spectrum of O2 related modeling as it regards combat flight simming is best left alone.

Personally, it is my belief that a sophisticated flight sim needs to model this to some degree or other. The dynamics this model could effect include not simply the question of whether or not a pilot can function. You are apaprently not considering some other aspects of the sim which could be diretcly influenced by O2 use and it's model:

1) damage model- the O2 system should be part of the damage model. BoB is supposed to be highly modeled. Why ignore a critical aspect of flight?
2) ground service- time on ground to re-fuel, re-arm, and replenish oxygen. Also- high pressure or low pressure bottles? Historically it mattered
3) altitude an aircraft can operate- without an O2 system, it is not reasonable for an open cockpit plane to operate at the same altitude a late war plane could. Likewise, it is also not reasonable for a plane with a malfunctioning or damaged O2 system to operate at it's maximum altitude. This could also put a player's aircraft at a maximum altitude that a disadvantage occurs at.

You say that it's better not to have that modeled in some way. I disagree. You feel that if it cannot be modeled for each unique circumstance then it's not worth doing, if I understand you correctly. There is enough critical importance to the use of O2 systems in these aircraft that it would be negligent to call the sim 'sophisticated' but not model O2 use

Even the introduction of oxygen systems would be a step forward from not having it, even if it was a rudimentary one. Not modeling O2 use is like not modeling weather- O2 was a pilot killer, just like enemy aircraft and bad weather. Anything that threatens the life of the aircrew seems to me to be something a combat flight sim should consider. How we should advocate not modeling O2 use is baffling to me
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