combat flaps

[Gun Jam]

I see the sticky on this has been removed and I have some basic questions about use of flaps for combat.

 

 

If I deploy flaps (same flaps use for landing) in a turning dog fight I get a significant increase in maneuverability aoa will drop 5 to 7 units and I can then pull another 5 to 7 units to get back to 15.

 

 

This will often cause one of the LE slats to jam. Im not sure if damage is occurring due to high G or if I accidentally let the airspeed get too high.

 

 

How should flaps be used for dog fights?

 

 

Thanks

[turkeydriver]

yeah youre not using them right. Dogfight flaps should be your joystick thumb switch(the one you push for DLC) use it forward and back for slight incriments in flaps/slats. Also useful if taking off from shore very heavy. Landing flaps are only ever landing flaps- though some crazies in the 1980s used them to just about stop the jet in mid-air, it should break. Never use your landing flap switch if doing anything besides landing.

[dekiplav]

I see the sticky on this has been removed and I have some basic questions about use of flaps for combat.

 

 

If I deploy flaps (same flaps use for landing) in a turning dog fight I get a significant increase in maneuverability aoa will drop 5 to 7 units and I can then pull another 5 to 7 units to get back to 15.

 

 

This will often cause one of the LE slats to jam. Im not sure if damage is occurring due to high G or if I accidentally let the airspeed get too high.

 

 

How should flaps be used for dog fights?

 

 

Thanks

 

According NATOPS you can't use them for combat, but... many Tomcat pilots at least of the record did use them, especially the ones who wanted to remind the Hornet pilots who's still the boss :D. On a serious note, just retract them when you go over approximately 240-290 kts and they wont jam. In case they do, you can't do nothing about it, you have to land and repair. Before the latest patch (you know before the "Small adjustments to thrust and drag models":D) you didn't need them for turning, at 320-350kts you could out turn everything. Even now except for the F-16 you good to go without them, except maybe... when the AI goes vertical and you are at the top part of the loop, or end up in a flat scissors, then they are useful, but when you go nose down retract them immediately (you will also accelerate more quickly with retracted flaps).

[Gun Jam]

Thank you guys for the very helpful replies

 

 

 

I have actually not yet implemented DLC.I thought it was for landing assist only and I just used my throttle for that so I havent bound it to anything yet.

 

 

 

I have the warthog hotas throttle is there a key or slider that is idea for DLC?

 

 

On that note if you haven't tried the landing flaps in a low speed dogfight its pretty kick butt although im not sure how that would compare to DLC...

[Eagle7907]

I used the CMS hat half way up the stick on the left. Forward for retract, aft for extend, down for countermeasure/DLC

 

 

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[Xenovia]

I thought combat flaps deployed automatically?

[eatthis]

yeah youre not using them right. Dogfight flaps should be your joystick thumb switch(the one you push for DLC) use it forward and back for slight incriments in flaps/slats. Also useful if taking off from shore very heavy. Landing flaps are only ever landing flaps- though some crazies in the 1980s used them to just about stop the jet in mid-air, it should break. Never use your landing flap switch if doing anything besides landing.

 

is that mapped as default on the warthog stick? (dlc is)

[eatthis]

I thought combat flaps deployed automatically?

 

i thought that was the slats?

[turkeydriver]

yes they are mapped on the warthog stick in the right location. You should give yourself just a bit- it doesn't give a HUGE benefit- but a few degrees. Landing flaps actually fights your nose position because of how the wing generates lift with full flaps- you can fly slower but don't try to get your nose high. Get Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators and read about flaps and what the different types do. You'll learn a lot.

[Xenovia]

i thought that was the slats?

 

I don't know, I just let the plane automatically do its thing, I've had very good results that way, although at super slow speeds I'd use full flaps to get that extra edge and retract them as soon as possible, as to not forget and exceed the speed limit on them and lock them up.

[turkeydriver]

F-14 maneuver flaps moves both the slats and flaps- the flaps to a lesser degree IIRC.

[Eldur]

I thought combat flaps deployed automatically?

 

 

Yes, the auxiliary air brakes do exactly that above 10 units of A of A. And they come back in once below 8 units. And that's why I usually keep them locked in with the DLC on my boat switch (simulating thumb on the wheel) since I don't like the massive speed drop when attempting a 30° bank turn while cruising at 8.5 units when being level which always makes them pop out usually due to the increase of lift needed to hold the altitude... let aside the massive change in trim. I always thought the Tomcat had a kinda automatic trim system that would account for wing sweep and maneouver flaps changes, but apparently she doesn't or doesn't do that good enough.