How will engines perform in Normandy's climate?

[Jaktaz]

I just got the P-51 this morning, and I've been having a lot of fun with it on the Dogs of War server. One of the things I particularly like about the plane would be all the engine management that needs to be done. You need to decide how much you want to open your radiators, careful to not let the engine run on the ground too long without a consistent airflow. Once your in the air, you need to manage your manifold pressure to keep your coolant from getting too hot. These things were especially important on the server I was doing, as apparently at the time the outside temperature was supposed to be hot. I wonder how these things will carry over when we Normandy comes out.

[VincentLaw]

DCS gives you pretty full control over the weather. As of the time of this posting, It is 14 °C and 757 (mmHg) QNH with 0 m/s wind in Caen, Normandy. Try plugging that into the mission editor and you will know how your plane will fly in Normandy. The weather varies over time of course, so you may want to use a historical weather info to set the conditions at a different time of year.

Edited June 11, 2016 by VincentLaw

[Ala13_ManOWar]

Exactly, the aircraft will perform in Normandy the very same it performs in the same weather in any other map. DCS has no steady maps like old sims, you can give a try with any weather condition in current map to experience how performance changes from freezing cold to desert hot. When Normandy is available weather options will be the same.

 

S!

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Depending on Season, DCS also simulates very plausibly the density effects due to geopotential surfaces being "streched" in hot Summer time and "tighten" in cold Winter.

 

For the same QNH at an airfield, you will be able to notice the effect, with 5000' alt read in cold Winter being significantly lower AGL compared to the same altitude in hot Summer.

 

I know of no civil simulators other than Aerowinx PSX, ELITE and Airlinetools A32X, that model this effect.

Edited June 13, 2016 by jcomm

[Jaktaz]

Very interesting stuff guys, thanks! I didn't know DCS was so in depth with this, but I'm not surprised.

[BSS_Sniper]

I just got the P-51 this morning, and I've been having a lot of fun with it on the Dogs of War server. One of the things I particularly like about the plane would be all the engine management that needs to be done. You need to decide how much you want to open your radiators, careful to not let the engine run on the ground too long without a consistent airflow. Once your in the air, you need to manage your manifold pressure to keep your coolant from getting too hot. These things were especially important on the server I was doing, as apparently at the time the outside temperature was supposed to be hot. I wonder how these things will carry over when we Normandy comes out.

 

No offense intended, but I don't know why people there's so much involved with engine management. There are specific settings for different phases of flight. There really isn't much changing of manifold pressure and prop pitch. As far as the radiators go, if it's like the P51, just expect to keep them open, all the time, unfortunately.

 

I wouldn't really think much about the climate, its not extreme in one way or another.

[Captain Orso]

I think the environmental changes between sea level and 15,000 feet are going to be far greater than between the Black Sea and the English Channel.

 

Now, if we ever get a North African map, we might start thinking about some new environmental conditions :D

[sobek]

As far as the radiators go, if it's like the P51, just expect to keep them open, all the time, unfortunately.

 

Now that is just bad advice. There's no need to keep the rads fully open during any phase of flight except if you expect *very* rapid changes in heat output in a short amount of time (like during takeoff).

[Solty]

Now that is just bad advice. There's no need to keep the rads fully open during any phase of flight except if you expect *very* rapid changes in heat output in a short amount of time (like during takeoff).

Agreed. I am actually flying with auto only and if you keep temps in check, you won't get an engine failure ever again.

Edited July 2, 2016 by Solty

[BSS_Sniper]

Now that is just bad advice. There's no need to keep the rads fully open during any phase of flight except if you expect *very* rapid changes in heat output in a short amount of time (like during takeoff).

 

Umm no, unless you want them to run a lot warmer than they should be running. You can't climb with them in auto nor can you fight with them in auto. The auto function doesn't work as it should. You MAY be able to cruise, but that's it.

[BSS_Sniper]

Agreed. I am actually flying with auto only and if you keep temps in check, you won't get an engine failure ever again.

 

I don't have engine failures because we use them full open. I'm not sure why you guys thing the auto feature works. Yeah, you can keep it in auto and be VERY careful, it shouldn't be that way.

[Holbeach]

Please remember where the P-51 was first designed to operate IRL.

 

It was specified, built, named, bought and paid for, by the British taxpayer, for operation in Europe, so it should be perfectly at home there.

 

It's a pity if the radiator doesn't work correctly in full auto, as it was meant to be used, as this should keep the engine at optimum temp and efficiency, especially during combat and leaving it at fully open would cost around 25 mph at high altitude on the real aircraft.

 

The FM should reflect this and would be all the better for it.

 

..

[sobek]

Yeah, you can keep it in auto and be VERY careful, it shouldn't be that way.

 

This is wrong. I've spent hours upon hours flying in all sorts of situations with the rad on auto and it worked.

 

If you're referring to the green bar on the coolant temp gauge, it has no meaning, search the forum. But please don't perpetuate half truths about DCS not working correctly when you are misinformed. Same as in the other thread where you claimed that overboosting has no negative effect.

Edited July 3, 2016 by sobek

[sobek]

It's a pity if the radiator doesn't work correctly in full auto

 

It does. The only time when flying full open makes any sense is when you wildly modulate engine power output, because the radiator door actuator is too slow to cope with rapid heat output changes. As is the case IRL.

 

 

I

The FM should reflect this and would be all the better for it.

 

It does, which is why flying the rad full open at all times is a bad idea.

Edited July 3, 2016 by sobek

[Holbeach]

sobek.

 

It's good to know the FM is solid.

The whole point of auto engine management is to maximize engine and aerodynamic efficiency, relieving the pilot of these chores, to concentrate on the job in hand.

 

..

[TheFace]

Wouldn't the Meredith effect cancel out any negatives of having the rads fully open?

[AndyJWest]

Wouldn't the Meredith effect cancel out any negatives of having the rads fully open?

 

I don't think you'll get any thrust with the rads fully open - the Meredith effect is only significant when the nozzle outlet size is optimised for the airflow and radiator temperature.

 

[ame=http://www.arpnjournals.com/jeas/research_papers/rp_2015/jeas_0715_2249.pdf]http://www.arpnjournals.com/jeas/research_papers/rp_2015/jeas_0715_2249.pdf[/ame]

Edited July 25, 2016 by AndyJWest