SoW:BoB DB601 Pitch / MG-FFl

[JG53Frankyboy]

Originally Posted by FAE_Cazador

Sorry, but I would like to have some points clarified or summarized from this interesting thread (thanks to Blackdog for the nice explanation). I talk about present IL-2 stock planes, unmodded . Maybe someone can kindly confirm my thoughts:

1.- Now in IL-2, we can fly Bf-109/Fw-190 in "AUTO" mode. Then you can forget your prop pitch as you just select your throttle and the "Kontrol Gerät" take care of changing the pitch accordingly. It optimizes your RPM to the optimal value and also avoids to overrev your engine. So it is not a pure "Constant Propeller" as you do not really set a specific RPM value but a throttle position (which in fact sets a manifold pressure in Ata). Am I right? . Same behaviour applies to Spits/Mustangs.

2.-If you fly the same Bf-109/Fw-90 in "MANUAL" mode, you can do the same, but manually, continuously visually monitoring RPM value and changing accordingly the prop pitch by hand. But in this case the optimal RPM value to reach is unknown for us, common virtual pilots. Probably a real pilot will know this value from their training season or books. IMHO, a good value could be setup about 3000 RPM. Is it OK?

3.- It is supposed that you don't get any advantage now by flying in "Manual", instead of in "Auto". However, years ago people complained on line about cheating by flying Bf/Fw planes in Manual, getting more power than expected specially when climbing. This was supposedly fixed in a IL-2 patch. Is it OK?

4.- Russian planes fly like Fw/Bf in Manual mode but, curiously, in german planes you can easily break your engine if you don't take care of your RPM, while in Yak/La/Migs you can't. You can fly Yaks at 100% throttle, forgetting pitch, even when diving or climbing (overheat is a different issue). Maybe you can lose performance in your engine, but you don't really feel it too much, and of course you never break it out as quickly as flying Bf/Fw. Is this a bug of IL-2 or it was really so in real life?

5.- Finally, then in IL-2 we do not have pure "Constant Propeller" planes but planes with "Variable Pitch Propeller" . And of course, some older "Fixed Pitch" wooden propeller planes. Am I right?

Sorry for my English level, I hope you got my point.

BR

i wrote this some time ago:


for all piston engined planes except:
Ki-27
J8A
I-16 Typ 5&6
Fokker XXI
TB-3s
Fw190 in auto mode
Ta152H in auto mode
Spitfire IX and VIII in auto mode
Bf109, Bf110,Do335,Ta152C in manual and auto mode:
the prop pitch in game is controlling the engine revolutions - so 100% pitch here means you allow the egnine to run at max rpm if enough throttle/power is available.
in combat you shoud fly always with 100%.
to lower your pitch is actually only necesarry if you want realy fly slow (that your comrades or the AI can close formation or you want safe fuel) , than you have to reduce the pitch like the throttle. same % rate or pitch 10% more than the throttle % is a good solution.

also using full throttle and useing only 90-95% pitch can reduce the overheat chance - usefull in some planes like the Tempest or the Corsair and Hellcat. that doesnt harm your speed/climb much, if at all !

very few planes in game are overrev in a power dive (full power, 100% pitch) - IIRC that are the Cr.42, G.50, Mc.200, Fw190A/F in manual mode, Fw190D/Ta152H in manual mode, the Brewsters(not sure about that , may have changed in a patch)


Fw190 in auto mode
Spitfire IX and VIII in auto mode
Bf109, Bf110,Do335,Ta152C in auto mode:
have a one lever system, if you control the throttle, the pitch is automaticly also controled


Bf109, Bf110,Do335,Ta152C in manual mode:
thats totaly different, here you control the propeller blade angle direclty ! no automatic will keep the rpm in a "good" condition. it brings you no benefit to use this manual settings anymore (there was a time ). so, dont bother it

the
Ki-27
J8A
TB-3s
I-16 Typ 5&6
Fokker XXI:
have fixed propellers, so nothing to control there

[JG53Frankyboy]

"To increase the performance of the Me 109 an increase in the
revs for a short time at heights over 5.5 km. will be in future be
permissable. For the DB 601 A engine the normal maximum revs are 2400.
Above full pressure height they may be for a short time be increased
from 2400 to 2600. For the DB 601 N engine the normal maximum revs are
2600, but may be increased to 2800 for a short time above the full
pressure height. An increase in the normal revs of 2400 for the DB 601A
or 2600 for the DB 601 N at heights of less than 5.5 km. is still not
permissable, as the engine is damaged without any increase in the
performance of the aircraft being obtained. The use of the increased revs
places a particular strain on the engine and must therefore, for
reasons of safety, be restricted to the absolutely neccessary.

To assist the pilot an automatic airscrew pitch changing
device has been introduced. This ensures, without intervention by the
pilot, that the maximum revs are not exceeded and the engine is not
subjected to excessive strain. In addition, every position of the
throttle lever has a corresponding rev. speed, which is kept within
narrow limits by the automatic device in all flying conditions, including
diving. In the case of economical flight, in which lower revs are
desirable for each throttle lever setting in order to increase the range,
the automatic device can be switched off and the neccessary changes in
the airscrew pitch carried out in the ordinary way by means of the
thumb swithc.

The devices for the automatic regulations of the revs
hitherto used will be modified by Messerschmitt and VDM as quickly as
possible so that the short period increase in revs to 2600 for the
DB 601 A and 2800 for the DB 601 N permissable above the full pressure
height can also be made by the automatic device. Until
this modification is completed the excess revs can only be obtained by
means of the thumb switch after switching off the automatic device.
In doing this the danger of an additional impermissable increase in
the revs must be watched.

In the interests of the reliability of the technical
equipment it is essential that units should make themselves acquainted
with the above instructions and observe them strictly. The
instructions must therefore be read out to all pilots and maintance
personnel."

-> http://www.kurfurst.org/Engine/Boost..._increase.html

[Azimech]

Excuse me for kicking this topic back to life but it really is a nice discussion, and involves features I'd really love to see in 4.11 - an increase in complexity in engine/prop use.

Especially Blackdog's post is a real gem.