Nursing a damaged aircraft to safety?

[K_Freddie]

Originally Posted by TinyTim

Then it appears you've never been in a race for your life with an enemy AC of very similar top speed chasing you. Like running away in a Fw 190 D from a La-7. Opening and closing rads is a matter of life and death in such a scenario.

Long ago when I was a Luftwaffe FW190A9 pilot (Still wouldn't fly anything else) I was set upon by 2 LA7s from above, on a Berlin map.

I just turned away and headed for ground level. I couldn't head direct for my airfield as they would've caught me, so I went on a verrrrrrrry slow turning detour towards my airfied and safety of AAA. It was a 10-15 minute run playing with every lever available.. Prop pitch, trim, radiators. One LA gave up but the other was determined, but I was gaining on him all the time. Not much but enough to stay out of trouble. I made it back to my airfield and that's where the LA's flight ended...

The FW gets you home anytime