4.11 F4U Performance

[Pips]

Been following this thread with much fascination. Aircraft performance discussion's are always a passionate, hard argued topic.

Several good points have been made on both sides, although not always accepted by those of a different view. Many links have been offered touting flight information, which again are not always accepted by those with a different view.

We all have our own preferences and beliefs, and changing anyone's view is a very hard thing to do. Lots of facts and figures can often get in the way of reaching an agreement. Especially as there doesn't seem to be an agreement of just 'one' set of figures for performance.

Which in a roundabout way brings me to my question.

In all the various threads with links/comments to performance graphs and figures, no mention has been made of the those contained in the superb book "America's Hundred Thousand: US Production Fighters of WWII" by Francis H. Dean.
This book contains it all; info on all 11 US fighter aircraft (and all sub-models), graphs, figures, turn rates, roll rates, climb rates, development background, performance, compressability effects, aircraft comparisons, take-off runs, loads (fuel and ammo), weights, engine settings for all forms of flight and so on. If that was used as the basis for modelling US aircraft flight performance it sure would go a long way to avoiding this form of dispute.


One of the little gems covered in the book is the issue of water-alcohol injection (WEP) for the F6F-3. It's been mentioned in the v4.11 ReadMe that TD has dropped WEP for the -3 model (but retained for the -5) in the interests of historical accuracy.

That however is not quite correct.

Whilst the F6F-3 originally was produced without WEP installed, following it's first actions by VF-33 in August '43 BuAer requested Grumman to fit WEP to all new -3 models, and to organise retrofitting of those already produced.
It didn't happen overnight, but by January '44 60% of all in-service F6F-3's had been fitted with the water-injected P&W R-2800-10W engine. That's covered in the book on Pages 26, 560 and 584.

So on that account TD should perhaps revert to the v4.10 setting for the F6F-3 model.

[sawyer692]

Originally Posted by Pips

In all the various threads with links/comments to performance graphs and figures, no mention has been made of the those contained in the superb book "America's Hundred Thousand: US Production Fighters of WWII" by Francis H. Dean.
.

I made mention of that book in post #21 of this thread:

"According to "America's Hundred Thousand", all Navy planes, with full load, could take off on an empty deck, using full length with no wind and no ship speed, except the F6F-3."

Excellent post by the way.

I don't mean to ruffle feathers or start bickering back and forth with folks. I think this patch is a really good addition to this sim.

It just happens the F4U (and the F6F) are planes I fly exclusively and they cannot afford to be tweaked in such a way that allows carrier ops to be so lacking. If they were strictly land-based planes, I don't think such a stink would have been made.

Team Diadalos mentioned they will fix the problem and I trust they will follow through. I don't want this to give the impression the patch is unappreciated.

[6S.Maraz]

Originally Posted by Pips

One of the little gems covered in the book is the issue of water-alcohol injection (WEP) for the F6F-3. It's been mentioned in the v4.11 ReadMe that TD has dropped WEP for the -3 model (but retained for the -5) in the interests of historical accuracy.

That however is not quite correct.

Whilst the F6F-3 originally was produced without WEP installed, following it's first actions by VF-33 in August '43 BuAer requested Grumman to fit WEP to all new -3 models, and to organise retrofitting of those already produced.
It didn't happen overnight, but by January '44 60% of all in-service F6F-3's had been fitted with the water-injected P&W R-2800-10W engine. That's covered in the book on Pages 26, 560 and 584.

So on that account TD should perhaps revert to the v4.10 setting for the F6F-3 model.

Hi,
we are aware that WEP was fitted to F6F-3 during their operational carreer.
Unfortunately we cannot activate FM features according to mission date (up to now).

So we decided to leave F6F-3 without water injection in order to have two different models, one representy an early plane, retaining old performance, the other one (F6F-5) getting a boost. Otherwise we would have had two almost identic planes.

And no, we cannot add a new slot for a late F6F-3, unfortunately (Grumman F6F-3 is the complete name of this aircraft).

Thanks for your report and your support.
Maraz

[Jumoschwanz]

I set the 1944 Corsair up on the Lexington with the carrier traveling at 32km/hr and I took off with 100% fuel and two 500lb bombs on my second try. After I went in the drink on the first attempt I watched the AI take off with a weapons load and it taught me a few things.

I used full throttle, 100% prop pitch and full flaps as I always have.

I noticed that when the AI left the end of the deck, they immediately raised their landing gear and then actually flew their aircraft at an angle towards the surface of the water to pick up airspeed, then leveled out just above it.

If you leave the end of the carrier deck and try to hold the aircraft level and maintain altitude it will not work.

I am sure that most missions flown on and probably even off line will not require near 100% fuel, so with 25%-50% fuel and a weapons load things should be a lot easier.

I am not saying that IL2 is a perfect representation of Corsair and Carrier operations in WWII, but it it the best we have and if I can take off with a good fuel load and a few bombs then it will do the job for now.

[EJGr.Ost_Caspar]

Oh... different font face... interesting. Impact is no web font though. Sry to be OT.