Can't get 109E3 to roll fast enough for takeoff (but E4 no problem)

[Walrus1]

I can start the E3 engine fine, max the throttle and roll across the tarmac, but my speed never gets near high enough to takeoff.

E4 I can takeoff and land just fine. Either model I can start the engine no problem.

I tried to follow instructions on Fleas reference although obviously I missed something.

Is there some kind of brake that needs to be released, or some other switch to be toggled or lever moved that I am unaware of?

I am sure the problem is quite simple and is right in front of me somewhere but for the life of me I haven't been able to solve it.

[5./JG27.Farber]

E1 and E3 have manual propellor pitch. E4 is automatic.

Set pitch to 12:00 (full) for take off and landings. Try 10:00 for level flight and 10:30/11:00 for climb. Obviously, in a dive reduce it so your engine remains bleow 26000 RPM's. Go over 30000 RPM's and your engine will be destroyed.

The E4 auto propitch is a bit disfunctional. Take off with manual then set it back on.

Never use flaps for take off in the 109, she doesn't need it, even with a bomb.

[FFCW_Urizen]

Originally Posted by 5./JG27.Farber

Never use flaps for take off in the 109, she doesn't need it, even with a bomb.

+1000 and i use to keep my revs at 2200-2300 during climb and acceleration to top speed at manifold pressure 1.25 ata.

[jf1981]

You need 2400 rpm for take off. If they are not here you did'nt select the correct pitch. Minimum pitch for take off, for E4 you may need to switch to manual pitch for take off.

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by cheesehawk

^ modded 109s maybe, most can only do 2600-3000.

What ever... I added an extra 0. So what... Everyone knew what I ment....

[Walrus1]

Thanks for the help. Got it to work now and am up and flying.

I thought I had accounted for the prop pitch but it turns out I wasn't doing it properly. I thought that you just moved the lever up or down to get to max or minimum setting. I didn't realize that you had to hold the lever down for about 10 seconds and watch the dial spin all the way up to get max prop pitch.

[VO101_Tom]

Originally Posted by Walrus1

Thanks for the help. Got it to work now and am up and flying.

I thought I had accounted for the prop pitch but it turns out I wasn't doing it properly. I thought that you just moved the lever up or down to get to max or minimum setting. I didn't realize that you had to hold the lever down for about 10 seconds and watch the dial spin all the way up to get max prop pitch.

You should check this instrument (right next to the tachometer):


The clock indicates the Propeller Pitch.
12:00 clock = 22° PP (fine)
8:00 = 46° PP (coarse)

10 minutes = 1° PP, 1 hour = 6° PP. The PP movement speed is 1°/sec in the game.

At take off and Landing the PP should stand on 12:00. Even if you fly with E-4, you should turn off the automatic, set the PP in manual mode. During the flight, the propeller pitch depends on the engine rpm: in any case, it should be 2200-2400 rpm.

[Puppet]

Originally Posted by cheesehawk

Well, it actually starts at the right position, 12:00, but there's a bug still in the game where it starts coarsening after you spawn. If you make your first action after creating a plane of toggling the prop-pitch lever, it will un-hang. Then you only have about 2-5 seconds to set it.

The same is true with the E4. Switch off the automatic pitch, toggle the pitch any direction momentarily, then switch back on automatic and take off. The debugged auto pitch will keep ya at 12:00 for takeoff.

[kestrel79]

Can anyone offer some help on reducing the pull to one side when flying? I understand the prop creates this pull from the torque but when flying for me it seems a little extreme and I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong in the 109. Maybe my prop pitch or throttle is too high when climbing or cruising?

I remember the 109 from IL2 was like this but once you found the "sweet spot" speed and angle for climbing cruising it sort of trimmed itself out on it's own. Does this exist in Clod for the 109 and other planes? Rudder trim helps on some of the British planes but I still am side slipping but I can't remember if the 109 has it, I don't think so?

[5./JG27.Farber]

Originally Posted by cheesehawk

The 109s have no rudder trim, so you're out of luck there. I find cruising to be best at around 1900-2100 rpm, there's very little pull there. The slower the prop is moving, the less torque it generates. However, with the default settings of the trim tabs (we can't change them, they were built in, little tabs on the trim surfaces, rudder, ailerons that were only adjusted by the ground crews), if you get too slow, it actually starts pulling slightly, the other way.

Trim tabs would not have mattered much anyway... They are only good for certain speeds.

Take note of the slip slide once in a while and adjust with ailerons and rudder slightly, thats all you can do.