Comparison of ranges for all of the warbirds

[Mr_sukebe]

Does anyone have a summary of the ranges of the various warbirds and how far they could fly with say 100% fuel at a normal cruising speed?

 

I’m trying to get a feel for how much fuel I should need per hour.  
 

ps, I know that I can look at theoretical data, but was hoping for data from pilot testing in DCS

Edited February 1, 2021 by Mr_sukebe

[DD_Fenrir]

Very much a "it depends" answer here.

 

Altitude plays a BIG part. Even using a rule of thumb of TAS=IAS+(IAS x 2% x 'Alt in ft' / 1000), with an IAS of 200mph at 5,000ft you're doing 220mph, at 10,000ft 240 mph and at 20,000ft 280mph.

 

In 0 wind then you could travel 80 miles further by flying 15,000ft higher!

 

Then you have the question: how are you making that speed?

 

Lets take the Spit as an example.

 

At 10,000ft max continuous - 2650RPM and +7lb boost - I can make ~265mph IAS but will use ~80 gallons an hour. This gives you an endurance of 1 hour and 4 min, without combat. Ferry range of ~340 miles. 

 

By sacrificing 15 mph I can drop power settings to 2200RPM and +4lb boost and use only 61 gallons per hour. This gives you an endurance of 1 hour and 24 min, without combat. Ferry range of ~403 miles. 

 

 By sacrificing 45 mph I can drop power settings to 2000RPM and +0lb boost and use only 45 gallons per hour. This gives you an endurance of 1 hour and 53 min, without combat. Ferry range of ~497 miles.

 

Of course this all relies on still air any wind will affect these calculations appreciably.

[Mr_sukebe]

OK, just tested in in game.

I'll say now, VERY rough test.  

200 mile flight followed by landing.  Height around 8k, at cruising speed, NOT trying to be economical.  Running at the kind of speeds that I'd normally use in mission  eg. in the Spit, 2700rpm, 7PSI.

 

Fuel usage from full internal tanks (no externals):

 - Spitfire: 90%

 - P47: 40%

 - P51: 23%

 - 109: 53%

 - 190 D9: 47%

 - 190 A8: 65%

 

Putting it another way, build in a bit of contingency, no combat, and the max ranges on full internal tanks would appear to be around:

 - Spitfire: 200 miles

 - P47: 400-450 miles

 - P51: 750 miles

 - 109: 375 miles

 - 190 D9: 390 miles

 - 190 A8: 275 miles

 

More usefully in a mission on say the Channel map, it's 200 miles to fly from Manston to Arras and back.

So being safe, for that mission (assuming some time to loiter, and possibly run in combat):

 - Spit: Internal tanks - 100% and also a fuel tank

 - P47: Internal tanks - 60%

 - P51: Internal tanks - 35%

 - 109: Internal tanks - 75%

 - 190 D9: Internal Tanks - 70%

 - 190 A8: Internal tanks - 90%

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by Mr_sukebe