the Blenheim talk

[bando]

So you did not brake your engines?
How did you do this.
My engines always die halfway the runway.

[Blackdog_kt]

The engines break for me too while in flight if i use high boost settings. The only advice i can offer until we have some documentation for CEM is not to use the extra boost (so, set the boost cut-out to off, the cockpit lever should be pointing upwards) or use it only if you gradually and slowly throttle up.
In my test flight it seemed that abrupt power changes break the oil gaskets and that's not entirely unrealistic, considering that my oil temps were a mere 40 degrees tops (cold oil is more dense and it can break pipelines and so on if an increased flow is forced suddenly).

In general, the radials seem more sensitive to temperature effects and you can even have them almost stall on you or run very rough if you throttle down during a long descent (had this happen in the G.50). I just don't know if this is due to spark plug fouling from prolonged idle or due to shock cooling.

However, the Blenheim can easily do 150mph on just -2 psi boost and 2300RPM, which would indicate that the extra boost is to be used only in emergency situations.
Wikipedia states 200mph as the cruise speed for the Canadian-built Bolingbroke version of the Mk.IV (which is what our in-game version is modeled after) and i managed to get it to 150mph with very conservative power values,without knowing the proper power settings and while loaded with 90% fuel and four 250lb bombs, so it seems that it's not exactly short of power. I guess if we knew the operating limits for the engines we could do even better.

As for why it keeps turning in the cross-country mission, it could be that this mission has wind on the airfield. Taildragger aircraft always want to turn into the into the wind if left unattended, so it might be a factor?

[bando]

Thanks Blackdog_kt, will give it a go. I'll setup a mission within the FMB to make sure the wind is the culprit.

EDIT:

Made my own mission without wind and tried to take off in the Blennheim.
First of all; rudder is trimmed all the way to the right when entering the Blennheim. Don't know why, but you have to correct it. Second: Tail wheel lock does not work.
Started her engines and after a minute or so stopped the carb heat for both. Had pitch halfway travel (60% or so) as well as mixture (50%) and let the engines run warm. There is a significant difference between Stbd and port engines in oil pressure. Again I don't know why. After some 10 - 15 minutes (made some coffee) I figured those engines where warmed up sufficiently and I pushed up some throttle slowly. Kept the brakes on till I saw some RPM indicator rise.
This mission had no wind and the aircrafts rudder was trimmed neutral, resulting in no right drift anymore!! Was able to slowly rev up, let go of the brakes and made a slow run for take off. Engines were doing some 2200 rpm, pitch at some 60% travel and flaps down, I finally got her up. Raised gear, climbed some and retracted flaps. I couldn't believe it, but there I was flying over southern England at 1900 on a summers evening. Awesome!!

It's a tricky plane for sure. Tried a couple of times after this success and mostly blew up engines again. Well, at least I got her to fly once.

Hope it helps someone fine tuning the take off techniques for this beautiful aircraft.