Quote:
Originally Posted by Anders_And
U ever read any first hand account from WW2 pilots?! I just finished "the big show" by Pierre Clostermann. In one chapter he tells the story when his Spitfire was hit in the oilsystem over France and oil was spraying all over his canopy and how he managed to nurse his machine home with zero oil pressure and an engine that was on the edge to explode from the heat. He managed to cross the channel and land safely in England... there are 100s of these accounts from various ww2 pilots..
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That is oil leak, fair enough. But coolant system? I don't know mate but I'd say with a coolant leak, you're a glider within minutes - also based on numerous sotries from the WWII books, I'd say it's not entirely unrealistic, but what do I know.
If my cooling unit is hit, I throttle up and climb at full power HDG nearest airfield. If I am above France I know I won't make it home, when I am mid-channel, I might as well be lucky and nurse it home. I usually switch the engine off as soon I get oil gasket leak or exhaust head failure and glide. Best gliding speed I found is 100 mph IAS, coarse pitch, well trimmed, descending cca 900-1000 fpm.