Engine Management: Spittin' and Sputtering above 12,000 feet

[DieHard]

(I always fly my stuff in full realism, sim mode.)

 

Last night I flew the P-51D in Merlin's Dogs-of-War MP server. I have not flown the Mustang in at least 6 months and not very much since it was in the Beta.

 

At lower altitude it seems the engine was missing and sputtering, I am a bit deaf so I could not hear clearly. Maybe I would do better with the canopy off.

 

At above 12,000 feet definitely engine performance was less. Flew up to 30,000 feet. The engine runs better lower down. P-51 was made for high altitude pursuit.

 

After takeoff my RPM was set at 27, within 3 minutes. Throttle 46 but I am sometimes a bit higher. I watch my temperatures.

 

Played with the carburetor settings and engaged the pitot and guns heater.

 

I was not very happy with my results as to engine performance.

 

Does make me wonder if I damaged the engine prior to noticing the engine's poor performance?

 

At 30,000 feet manifold pressure was hard to even maintain up to 46 while RPM was at 27.

 

What am I missing?

 

(I was quite surprised I cold started her and taxied and took off no problem, considering I was guessing my startup and takeoff procedures. I landed it perfect 3-point landing, 2 separate sorties. Heck of a time finding the enemy without the icon identifiers turned on and a disabled F10 map; but they did not find me either. Almost opened up on a couple friendlies but I zoomed in my view first to see they were friendlies by their paint schemes and plane profile. Arma 3 I always check who I am aiming at before firing my rifle.)

 

Thanks for any help.

Edited August 7, 2014 by DieHard

[Art-J]

Last time someone here started a thread about performance issues at high altitudes it turned out he was flying with mixture on emergency-rich all the time (thus flooding the engine up there). I would also make sure that ram air and carb air control levers are set properly (usually "ram air" and "normal" positions do the job just fine).

[DieHard]

Was not on Emergency Rich, set at Auto Lean.

 

Carb settings when I noticed the issue was the ram air controller was forward, the hot air controller was forward, both controllers were set as-is from pre-takeoff setup.

Pitot and gun heater were both off.

 

First noticed the problem at about 15,000 feet.

Edited August 7, 2014 by DieHard

[Art-J]

Sounds You got'em set up allright then.

 

Maybe You suffered some kind of random, minor failure, although If You managed to get her up to 30k at 46" and 2700 RPM, the engine worked more or less fine it seems? Fly a few off- and online missions more and see what happens.

 

Performance drop at 12k is to be expected, this is where 1st supercharger stage does not provide enough MAP, 45" at full throttle is all you can get if you're lucky and the plane flies like a pregnant elephant. When the second stage kicks in somewhat higher you get the lots of the performance back, but, for example, maintaining steady 2000 fpm climb rate (as is easily done at low and medium alts) with continuous climb engine settings (46/2700) will not be possible anymore.

[DieHard]

At about 18,000 feet I noticed the supercharger kick in and the engine smoothed out.

 

I'll pop the canopy in flight and will better be able to hear the engine in flight.

 

I've flown a few different WWII servers, most the action occurs in sims below 5,000 feet. I doubt that was true in real life, except I know the La-7 had a heck of a kill record below 5,000 feet and most the pilots were women.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

[Art-J]

Not sure about popping the canopy idea, because wind noise kicks in as well :D. I agree about Your latter sentiment though, but looks like that's just how it is - no matter what WWII sim people fly, number of guys eager for a quick furball down low always exceeds number of these who want to haul their butts up high.

 

Maybe introduction of the Normandy map and high-flying AI bombers to escort (hopefully!) will change the equation a bit.

[PE_Tigar]

I doubt that was true in real life, except I know the La-7 had a heck of a kill record below 5,000 feet and most the pilots were women.

 

You know nothing Jon Snow :)

[DieHard]

You know nothing Jon Snow :)

 

 

http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/WW2/Russians.htm

 

http://www.hitechcreations.com/wiki/index.php/La-7

 

http://ramjbwtacademy.blogspot.com/p/plane-review-la7.html

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB0e6DNy9kM

 

As to the "most" women statement, I may have gotten that mixed up with the Russian Bell P-39 as to mostly women flying it. Working on qualifying that statement.

 

http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/bell_p-39.php

Richard wrote a message concerning Russian women pilots and vodka receiving P-39s.

 

Looks like most of the Russian women fighter pilots in WWII flew versions of Yaks.

 

-+-

I remember reading the statement somewhere I quoted above.

Edited August 8, 2014 by DieHard

[DieHard]

(I always fly my stuff in full realism, sim mode.)

 

Last night I flew the P-51D in Merlin's Dogs-of-War MP server. I have not flown the Mustang in at least 6 months and not very much since it was in the Beta.

 

At lower altitude it seems the engine was missing and sputtering, I am a bit deaf so I could not hear clearly. Maybe I would do better with the canopy off.

 

At above 12,000 feet definitely engine performance was less. Flew up to 30,000 feet. The engine runs better lower down. P-51 was made for high altitude pursuit.

 

After takeoff my RPM was set at 27, within 3 minutes. Throttle 46 but I am sometimes a bit higher. I watch my temperatures.

 

Played with the carburetor settings and engaged the pitot and guns heater.

 

I was not very happy with my results as to engine performance.

 

Does make me wonder if I damaged the engine prior to noticing the engine's poor performance?

 

At 30,000 feet manifold pressure was hard to even maintain up to 46 while RPM was at 27.

 

What am I missing?

 

(I was quite surprised I cold started her and taxied and took off no problem, considering I was guessing my startup and takeoff procedures. I landed it perfect 3-point landing, 2 separate sorties. Heck of a time finding the enemy without the icon identifiers turned on and a disabled F10 map; but they did not find me either. Almost opened up on a couple friendlies but I zoomed in my view first to see they were friendlies by their paint schemes and plane profile. Arma 3 I always check who I am aiming at before firing my rifle.)

 

Thanks for any help.

 

I think the issue I am hearing is a computer audio issue on my end on the Dogs-of-War server.