Spitfire Rads - How closed do you go?

[PeterPanPan]

I fly mainly Spits with CEM on. I also always fly with rads fully open to avoid overheating. But I suspect this is being over cautious and slowing me down too with the drag from a fully open rad. So, the question is, how closed can you go in average flight conditions to get the best balance between speed and avoiding cooking your engine? I suspect there is no simple answer, but let's see ...

Thanks

PPP

[Trooper117]

Set to normal once in cruise.. close rad if it starts to drop out of normal operating temp..
Just monitor temps really.

[ATAG_Snapper]

Originally Posted by Trooper117

Set to normal once in cruise.. close rad if it starts to drop out of normal operating temp..
Just monitor temps really.

+1

[ATAG_Dutch]

Fully open for take-off, then once airspeed, pitch and boost are set, and the a/c trimmed for the climb at 160 IAS, I reduce to halfway (or about 8 or nine clicks if you use buttons), check trim again and pretty much leave it there.

I close it fully when diving with power off, then open up to normal. As the other chaps have said, keep glancing at the temps. Prolonged fine pitch/high revs sends your oil temp soaring, but a few seconds of coarse pitch brings it down again really quickly.

I very rarely boost the engine beyond +5 unless in combat, and open rad fully when I do.

[skouras]

same with Dutch

[PeterPanPan]

Thanks chaps, very useful indeed. What is 'normal' setting though? Was there such a setting in the real world or are we talking about simply half open? Will check tonight, but is there any cockpit indication (other than the position of the 'handbrake') of where the rad is?

Thanks

PPP