Warm Up Times of Radial Engines.

Originally Posted by ElAurens

... even in warm climates, a large radial can take up to half an hour to properly warm up ...

As a pilot and mechanic who's flown or done ground runs on radials (from R670s on through R2800s) on not sure I've ever waited more than about 5 mins for warm up. And warm up is usually not done at idle. About all you're looking for is oil temp because the oil is usually a heavy, single viscosity, like 50 weight, and if you throttle up too much too soon pressure will get too high popping gaskets in some areas while other areas will have low oil volume. Roller motors like the R2800 can actually handle low oil flow surprisingly well, though, because they don't rely primarily on plain bearings.

[BP_Tailspin]

Originally Posted by ElAurens

... even in warm climates, a large radial can take up to half an hour to properly warm up ...

Originally Posted by zipper

not sure I've ever waited more than about 5 mins for warm up. And warm up is usually not done at idle.

Are you talking about warm up before taxi or warm up before takeoff?

[Timberwolf]

The next update instead of fixing the crashing memory windows fart

Were going to have a old man with a can of methoxymethane (Ether ) standing infront of the aircraft yelling out "try it now!"

[Robo.]

Originally Posted by Luno13

I haven't flown a real plane with radiator control, but in every checklist I remember reading you are supposed to close the radiators when warming up on the ground. Is there another reason?

Yes there is a reason, you would cook some engines even before taking off. (Merlin III for instance, esp. in a Spitfire where the water rad is being blocked by the landing gear) Regarding Mercury IVs, in the real life manual it says rads open on the ground, shut on the take off run hence my comment about 'unrealistic', it's pretty much the other way round in game.

[nearmiss]

Starting an engine with ether is not warming it up. The purpose for warming an engine is to get the oil warm so that the bearing surfaces are lubricated properly. The ether just provides an extra large detonation of the fuel, nothing more.

[Igo kyu]

Originally Posted by ElAurens

Now I wish the CR 42 and Gladiator were flyable. The Brits really need a crap plane.

Skua? or not quite that crap?

[ElAurens]

Well, we do need some kind of attack aircraft, so the Blackburn would work, more or less...

[Timberwolf]

Originally Posted by nearmiss

Starting an engine with ether is not warming it up. The purpose for warming an engine is to get the oil warm so that the bearing surfaces are lubricated properly. The ether just provides an extra large detonation of the fuel, nothing more.

zoning in on how long the aircraft should run before take off instead of addressing game crashing as your taking off provides a large headache, nothing more

Originally Posted by BP_Tailspin

Are you talking about warm up before taxi or warm up before takeoff?

For the 2800, after start you want oil 50+ psi within 25/30 secs and then expect oil to hit 40C within 2 or 3 mins at 900/1000 rpm after which you can throttle up over 1000 rpm and typically start taxing. By the time you get to the run-up pad you're more than ready to due as much throttle as you need to, 2300 for mag and prop checks.


Here's a P-47 cold start with two mins to taxi. (Note the smoke which takes forever to clear because of the long exhaust to turbo - most Jugs today don't have this, they have conventional side exhausts at the original waste gate location.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9EPQa559Nk

PS. The smoke is from oil that has accumulated in the exhaust system and cylinders since the previous shutdown. Before starting a cold radial (or inverted) engine, always pull the prop through (forward) at least 2 full crankshaft revolutions, usually between (for a three blade prop) 6 and 18 blades, depending on gear reduction.

[ElAurens]

Was that a cold start as in the first start of the day?