Demo P-51 and Spitfire Top Speed

Marchochias · #1 07-31-2009, 05:53 AM

Hey, excellent demo, extremely impressive visuals, sound and flight characteristics on Simulation mode.

That said, does anyone else find the top speed on Simulation mode a bit odd? I'm going 100% throttle, even with WEP (which seems to make no difference on Simulation), and the Spitfire and P-51 both struggle to go faster than 250 mph on the level, accelerating extremely slowly if at all.

Does anyone else have this problem? Is there something I'm missing with the throttle controls?

Also, does anyone know how the trim works? I know "A" controls trim in Sim mode, but I can't tell which way it is actually changing the trim.

Does anyone use the Saitek flight stick on the 360? How is it? I'm thinking about purchasing one (Ace Edge is too expensive and not available in stores in my area), but I'm not sure how the controls would be mapped.

If someone who has it could explain how the controls are mapped to it, that would be excellent.

ryan2107 · #2 07-31-2009, 06:55 AM

Based on this information it seems pretty close to reality.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...tical-inc2.pdf

Here is the tactical trial that links to the above page

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...al-trials.html

monyetension · #3 07-31-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan2107

Based on this information it seems pretty close to reality.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...tical-inc2.pdf

Here is the tactical trial that links to the above page

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.o...al-trials.html

whoaa...now that solid

TexRoadkill · #4 07-31-2009, 09:12 AM

The saitek stick is worth the money, at least in the few days I've had it. Some of the buttons are in inconvenient places so it's best for sim mode where there is no target zoom anyway. It's WAY better then just using the Xbox controller if you can find a comfortable way to support it.

The trim button fixes the trim based on your current attitude. Try to get the plane as level as you can with whatever nose position you want and hit the Trim button. It will lock in the trim based on that. It usually takes me a few trys to lock it in closer and closer to level flight.

Marchochias · #5 07-31-2009, 07:36 PM

Thanks much for the tips guys.

That said, has anyone been able to exceed 300 mph in level flight in either the P-51 or the Spitfire?

Considering that late model P-51s could easily exceed 400 mph in level flight, it seems somewhat unrealistic that the in-game model can't seem to break 250 mph.

BadKarmaSutra96 · #6 08-01-2009, 12:35 AM

I was told that the later model P51's had an entirely different engine (A Rolls Royce if I remember correctly) than the first few models. The upgraded engine greatly improved their speed and ceiling in the later stages of the war.

But, I'm neither an airplane nut or a history buff so I wouldn't be surprised to be corrected in a later post.

David603 · #7 08-01-2009, 12:58 AM

You are right. The first Mustang, the P51A, was fitted with an Allison engine, which was good enough at low altitude but lacked supercharging and therefore had poor performance at high altitude. The plane in the demo is the later P51D Mustang which had an American built version of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine.

Marchochias · #8 08-01-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David603

You are right. The first Mustang, the P51A, was fitted with an Allison engine, which was good enough at low altitude but lacked supercharging and therefore had poor performance at high altitude. The plane in the demo is the later P51D Mustang which had a Rolls Royce Merlin engine.

A Merlin equipped P51D could easily exceed 400 mph in level flight, right?

I can't even get past 250 in the game, though. Am I missing something with the throttle controls? WEP seems to make no different from 100% thrust with acceleration.

David603 · #9 08-01-2009, 01:09 AM

Easily go past 400mph is probably overstating performance, since the Mustang D had a top speed of around 390mph at low level. The weight of the rockets will also be slowing you down.

However 250mph does seem rather low, so here is a little experiment to try. Get up to a decent altitude, and then dive until you do reach 400mph. Then see if you can hold this speed in level flight. If not, see what speed you can maintain.

SleepTrgt · #10 08-01-2009, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David603

Easily go past 400mph is probably overstating performance, since the Mustang D had a top speed of around 390mph at low level. The weight of the rockets will also be slowing you down.

However 250mph does seem rather low, so here is a little experiment to try. Get up to a decent altitude, and then dive until you do reach 400mph. Then see if you can hold this speed in level flight. If not, see what speed you can maintain.

ive come close to 375 Mph level flight.