71/2 Minutes at +11 Boost, Spit Ia100oct

[ATAG_Snapper]

I've now had a half dozen one-on-one engagements with 109's flying the Spitfire 1a 100 octane, at various altitudes and situations. I had earlier abandoned the 1a in CoD in favour of the Spitfire MK 1 2-speed prop since the latter wasn't so prone to overheating and had some advantages above FTH of ~ 16 angels. Based on Dutch's recent settings recommendations, I decided to give the 1a 100 octane another try.

It didn't start too well. The 109's have ample raw horsepower and I indeed overheated my engine twice in successive engagements trying to match -- and overtake -- a co-e 109 in a climb each time, desperately trying for a guns solution. Both times the engine blew I lost power in a very disadvantageous position. In both cases I immediately rolled into a vertical dive from well over 10,000 feet, keeping my speed below the 420 mph IAS lose-your-control-surfaces speed. (that's another issue for another time). Each time I was lucky that my opponent either lost sight of me against the terrain, or more likely he opted not to lose precious height over English soil.

A quick, if frustrated, discussion with Dutch brought these simple "dogfight rules" to bear. Other than checking your gauges before engaging, during the fight itself is no time to be taking your eyes off your opponent to verify temps, or moving levers about. So best to stick to this:

1) set rpms to 2400 with prop pitch (CSP) and leave it there
2) set rad to 50% open and leave it there
3) mixture pulled back to full Auto Rich and leave it there
4) keep boost cut out override CLOSED, limiting your boost to 6.2 lbs (less above 16 angels). EXCEPTION: if you're gonna die anyway (and you're 10 angels or less for this to work) open the BCOO gate and push your throttle to 11 lbs boost, and push your mixture lever forward into full Auto Lean (yeah, weird, I know). You've got 20 seconds to save your life; make each second count. Then pull your throttle back to 3 - 5 lbs boost, close the BCOO gate (if you remember), and fly level or a slight dive to cool your temps quickly.

5) accept the fact the 109's are faster, have more horsepower in the climb, and can out dive you. Their guns are better, their engines are more durable re overheating, they have much, much less radiator drag, and their engines don't cut out on neg g's. Other than this, the advantages are all yours: greater sustained turn, less nasty stalls & spins, better vision rearwards. And Spits are prettier than 109's. Never, NEVER let your speed decrease below 200 mph IAS at any time in combat. You climb after a 109 your engine will overheat as you slow down, PLUS you lose your maneuvrability and become an easy target. As Dutch said, wait for the 109 to commit to his dive on you. Be unpredictable, and chose a direction to start your turn. Turn gently at first to preserve your speed, then tighten progressively as he draws closer behind you. As he dives past, as Dutch said, reverse your turn quickly, kicking hard rudder to assist and chase down after him. Pull your sights through him as he pulls out and give a burst as he disappears beneath your nose. DO NOT FOLLOW HIM UP AS HE ZOOMS. Drop your nose and regain your airspeed -- change your course and clear your six. Do not play his game by circling underneath. Force his play by moving off, and try to regain some alt by gently climbing -- even 500 fpm if it allows you to maintain 200 mph IAS.

Boom and zooming is not as easy as many 109 pilots make it look. They happen to be very, very good at it, mainly by lots of practice on you and me. It requires excellent judgement skills in predicting where you'll be as they dive within gun/cannon range, and what you'll probably do to react as they're coming at you. Be unpredictable, and make opportunities to get a shot in -- if you clip their elevator they have a problem.

If there are two 109's and only one of you: SCRAM OUTTA THERE!

Until the devs see fit to fix the Spit and Hurri FM's to spec, this is the best we can do. Hope it helps.