Hornet ceiling and power/weight ratio

[xray20]

I set up the Hornet today with no stores, no pylons and very little fuel, just to see how high and fast it would go.

Wikipedia says that "the F/A-18 has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (1,034 knots, 1,190 mph or 1,915 km/h at 40,000 ft or 12,200 m)".

 

I had trouble maintaining 40,000 feet let alone Mach 1.8 at that altitude (above Groom Lake)

also, even with full afterburner I can't accelerate in a steep climb. This seems contrary to the 1.3:1 p/w ratio and doesn't match the airshow performance that can be seen on numerous YouTube videos.

None of the RW pilots have mentioned that the Bug seems down on power.

Is it me - what am I dong wrong? (flaps are up and trim set)

is the FM wrong?

Or is that just the way they fly?

[erautour]

I routinely fly @ FL410 and M1.5+ with 3 external tanks in the Aerobatics Online server otw to the west carrier. A couple times I dropped the bags and she accelerated past M1.7 before I had to descend.

[KewlerMouh]

I just failed to post a screenshot here.

 

Go a little bit deeper, I got M. 1.85 (clean air frame without pylons, 6000lbs fuel) at 37000 ft.

[HawkDCS]

Whats wrong is those are best case numbers. No load light on fuel nice cold air etc.

 

In real life when its HOT or plane is loaded they get nowhere close to the Max Performance numbers.

 

The plane is not a power house like the F15 etc. Its not going to zoom climb etc at those types of altitudes. Theres very little air to burn up there so less thrust but less drag but its not a net gain.

 

Can the plane go up to 50,000FT sure but its going to take a long time to get there. Can it go Mach 1.8 ya it will totally clean low on fuel in cold air at around FL360. Lower it wont go as fast there's to much drag. Higher there's to little oxygen to burn for enough thrust.

 

Its not just going to zoom up to 40K Ft and zoom around at 1.7-1.8 at any alt etc. These are perfect case numbers in an imperfect world.

 

Turn temp down on map clean plane up go to burner at FL360-370 you will get up there if your patient. Also higher altitude go lower your indicated speed is so your margin for flight is smaller and once you get slow in 18 its hard to get the speed back up at high altitude. Climb at 350 KIAS and level out FL370 and give it another try.

 

If anything it may have to much dry thrust as if you just have pylons on it will Supercruise very easily.

Edited July 4, 2018 by HawkDCS