109 cant do XXXX anymore.

Originally Posted by VO101_Tom

Hi. I don't know what may be your trouble (axis maybe?), this works at me. I release the lever, the increase/decrease of the propeller-pitch stops. Sometimes a couple of degrees moves longer, but nonsignificant (at the start, it may not respond to the lever until almost a full 6° turn... but there is OK after take-off).

Of course, if you only do this a very little bit, it will stop quicker. But still there is a considerable delay between releasing the lever and stopping of the clock arms turning. The longer you push the lever the longer the delay.
I do understand that some delay may occur in reality between pushing/releasing the lever and the clock and the proppitch. But this delay should at least be constant and independent of how long the lever is pushed. This really does not make any sense.

[robtek]

I believe it might be because the electric motor driving a high ratio gear mechanism has a inertia that keeps moving a short while even without energy.
As the indikator shows minuscule changes, making them look bigger.

[Crumpp]

9km with escort at 10km/11km

Just a note...

That is hardly realistic. Nobody flew at 36,000 feet operationally for any length of time during WWII. United States Oxygen systems during the war would be hard pressed to keep a pilot conscious for any long term exposure and fighting would be very problematic.

From the USAAF study on the physiological effects of altitude exposure on USAAF crews during the bombing campaign:

[6S.Manu]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Just a note...

That is hardly realistic. Nobody flew at 36,000 feet operationally for any length of time during WWII. United States Oxygen systems during the war would be hard pressed to keep a pilot conscious for any long term exposure and fighting would be very problematic.

From the USAAF study on the physiological effects of altitude exposure on USAAF crews during the bombing campaign:

We need to develop an realistic oxigen system mod for the old IL2!

EDIT: I would have done even the one to simulate the belts and limit the head movement on the cockpit but...

[Redroach]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Just a note...

That is hardly realistic. Nobody flew at 36,000 feet operationally for any length of time during WWII. United States Oxygen systems during the war would be hard pressed to keep a pilot conscious for any long term exposure and fighting would be very problematic.

Also, just a note, though it has little to do with the BoB: The US atomic bombers (B-29s, August 1945 over Hiroshima & Nagasaki) came in at around 32,000ft.

[Viper2000]

Originally Posted by Crumpp

Just a note...

That is hardly realistic. Nobody flew at 36,000 feet operationally for any length of time during WWII.

This is incorrect.

Just because the (unpressurised) B-17 and B-24 didn't fly in the stratosphere does not mean that nothing flew in the stratosphere.

In fact, the Germans used to fly reconnaissance missions in the Ju-86 at altitudes in excess of 45,000 feet, until such time as the Spitfire proved capable of intercepting them.

I believe the highest kill of the war was scored at almost 50,000 feet.

Obviously, close to the absolute ceiling, climb rates were awful, so getting up there probably took both parties well over an hour.

The secret was pressurisation, and the fact that people were prepared to put pilots through rather more physiological stress than would be considered acceptable today.

PR Spitfires quite often flew above FL400 as well, depending upon the atmospheric conditions (contrail avoidance being the main priority).

Beyond these extreme cases, the general trend was for the altitude of combat to increase until roughly mid 1942; hence the HF Spitfire IX and VIII, as well as the Spitfire VII, which started production around this time. Unfortunately, by the time these aeroplanes started to enter service, the average altitude of combat had started to come down again by "mutual consent", probably because people were starting to realise that it was quite difficult for fighters to influence events on the ground from way up in the stratosphere.

As for the B-17 and B-24, the main reason that they didn't go higher was the bomb loads they were carrying.

I strongly suspect that you'll find the higher altitude missions correspond to longer ranges, where bomb load was traded for fuel, much of which had been consumed by the start of the bombing run, resulting in a relatively high altitude (obviously the bomber stream would just cruise-climb to wherever its performance and the ambient conditions took it; they weren't taking any notice of German ATC ).

[Crumpp]

This is incorrect.

No that is correct in the context of the discussion. In the daylight bombing campaign missions mentioned in the thread nobody flew at such extreme altitudes. The altitudes and percentage times for bomber missions flown by the 8th USAAF during WWII are already posted. Would like the USAAF documentation on it?

As for the B-17 and B-24, the main reason that they didn't go higher was the bomb loads they were carrying.

No the main reason was human physiology. I would be happy to provide you not only with the study conducted by USAAF but the FAA AC which touches on the some of the issues and has a list of resources to get further acquainted with the subject.

http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/0/e04e9b9732ba93fd86256caa005ca97e/$FILE/AC61-107A.pdf

The Junkers 86 belonged to a family of very specialized high altitude aircraft. Only a handful were built and operated for a short period of time. Most importantly, it was a pressurized aircraft.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/sto...ere-24790.html

Operating at such altitude was very risky and only a handful of flights were conducted. The Spitfires that intercepted them were specialized for the task, they did not dogfight at all at high altitude, in fact they barely flew at all. The high altitude environment is as much an enemy as any combatant. Most importantly, they were equipped with a pressurized breathing system for the pilot.

As had been previously pointed out by von Schrotter (vice supra) and Haldane [41] altitude exposure in excess of 33,000 ft. resulted in falling arterial Oxygen saturation, even with the use of 100% Oxygen.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/aeromed/m...ng_hypoxia.htm

[ATAG_Doc]

One could deduce that physiology was a major player in anything the USAAF did.

[Crumpp]

One could deduce that physiology was a major player in anything the USAAF did.

Yes.

Carrying bombs was not the limit, a human beings ability to survive and function at altitude was the limiting factor.

That being said, the B-17 series approached the limit of what was practical for a high altitude bomber of the day. Prolonged operational campaign at 20,000 feet was a milestone given the technology.