posted 02-27- 01:12 PM            

I've caught the fm bug - omg - I'm actually starting to understand OPS.

I have a question for input. I reviewed a bunch of specs on the lanc from the web - to try to determine the proper weight for the plane. Many people had complained that the pp6.0 lanc was a) too fast and b) too good at climbing.

When I checked the specs the weight was set at 12700 (whoa - where did that come from). Reviewing the weights I found a bunch of things and determined that the 5.3 weight of 29000 (plus engine and turret weights - although one engine was 750 lbs?? instead of 1450 for the rest) was pretty well bang on - 36000 empty - once you add full fuel (assuming a 0.8 s.g., oh and I assume fuel tanks are in US gallons not imperial)and ordinance loadouts, the total gross weight gets close to 68000 - 70000 (matching reference specs).

Specs I have seen for engine horsepower vary depending on the variant but from what I can determine the hp should be 1640 (the 6.0 variant was set at 1460?). So because the new weight wouldn't take off I boosted the engine horsepower to the 1640 value.

Max Speed should be 287 mph at 11500, the version I am working with right now clocks over 300 (less the 310) at this altitude. But it can barely get off the ground at the North Dover field using the east west runway with a full loadout and 1/4 tank of fuel. It was kind of neat to watch two of the ai clip their landing gear shear off at the end of the runway and continue . If I put full fuel in it I don't think it will lift off.

I still need to check service ceiling - which should be 24500.

So now my question:
1. Before I go too far - have I missed an object weight? I have lanc 29000, engine1-4 1450 each, front turret 300 and rear turret 500, (oh left out the bay at 1 lb)- the weights for the turrets may be reversed.

2. How can I improve the ability to take off - without a 3d editor? Perhaps fudging the weight? By the way the AI planes reached 150 mph by the end of the runway - but were just lifting off as they skimmed the fence. It seemed to be a lift problem.

If I reduce the weight will I likely increase the top speed? - which Axis fighters won't like much.

posted 02-28- 12:01 AM               

Bomber FM's are a bit different you may want to make sure everyone wants to wait 1/2 hour to climb to alt before making them totally realistic.

I don't play online much anymore so I'd be happy either way.

TS

posted 02-28- 12:42 PM            

I found another 1000 lbs in the props yesterday so I dropped the lanc weight to 28000. The AI still has difficulty taking off - but I tested with a full fuel load (20,000 pounds) and bombs. At this fuel load the plane was pretty good speedwise- hitting around 287 mph at 11500. I'm going to test at a 1/4 tank for the AI later.

I checked out Mace's lanc and have decided not to incorporate it. It is based on the 5.3b version and for some reason I experienced a couple of crashes. I reviewed his notes in his readme and had a look at the sm file. He indicated he fixed the oil pressure so I had a look at this and discovered that the oil pressure guages were now reading rpm.

posted 03-28- 09:24 AM               

You need to increase the lift during take off. This can be accomplished by:
1) Increasing the airMax value to a value closer to 1. This will allow the flaps to move farther.
2) decrease the gear ratio and max prop pitch. This will slow the plane's max speed down and increase it's climb rate
3) Increase the airAdvantage value of the elevators. This will increase their effect on the aircraft.
4) Change the airK ratio to a value closer to 1. This will increase lift and decrease drag, so the top speed will go up slightly from this