DarkFire Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 I decided to put some time in to the F/A-18 while I patiently wait for the Tiffy to be released. I'm brand new at the Hornet and am still learning the very basics around how it handles. I know that this is dependent on loadout (drag), meterological conditions and altitude, but is there a ballpark figure for what is a good cruise throttle setting that's reasonably fuel efficient but that also allows for decent progress? I'm used to using 88-92% RPM in my Flanker for example so I'm wondering if there's a general equivalent engine RPM for the Hornet. System Spec: Cooler Master Cosmos C700P Black Edition case. | AMD 5950X CPU | MSI RTX-3090 GPU | 32GB HyperX Predator PC4000 RAM | | TM Warthog stick & throttle | TrackIR 5 | Samsung 980 Pro NVMe 4 SSD 1TB (boot) | Samsung 870 QVO SSD 4TB (games) | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. Personal wish list: DCS: Su-27SM & DCS: Avro Vulcan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zergburger Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 use FPAS page, it tells you best speeds an d altitudes for range and endurance. set speed, press auto throttle, PROFIT 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGun1450 Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Yep use the FPAS page! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kengou Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 It changes greatly based on altitude and conditions. FPAS page gives you the speed to match based on mach number for either best range or best endurance. Best endurance is usually around 0.5 mach or lower. Best range I've seen between 0.65 - 0.75 mach depending on just how high you cruise at. 3 Virpil WarBRD | Thrustmaster Hornet Grip | Foxx Mount | Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle | Logitech G Throttle Quadrant | VKB T-Rudder IV | TrackIR 5 AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB | 32GB DDR4 3200 | SSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkFire Posted March 23, 2021 Author Share Posted March 23, 2021 There we go, I didn't even know that page existed. Much more learning to be done. Thanks all for the information 4 System Spec: Cooler Master Cosmos C700P Black Edition case. | AMD 5950X CPU | MSI RTX-3090 GPU | 32GB HyperX Predator PC4000 RAM | | TM Warthog stick & throttle | TrackIR 5 | Samsung 980 Pro NVMe 4 SSD 1TB (boot) | Samsung 870 QVO SSD 4TB (games) | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. Personal wish list: DCS: Su-27SM & DCS: Avro Vulcan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobertsen Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 FPAS is the best page! 1 First become an aviator, then become a terminator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dburne Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Yep FPAS page is a new one for this new Hornet pilot as well, will have to check out out much thanks. 1 Don B EVGA Z390 Dark MB | i9 9900k CPU @ 5.1 GHz | Gigabyte 4090 OC | 64 GB Corsair Vengeance 3200 MHz CL16 | Corsair H150i Pro Cooler |Virpil CM3 Stick w/ Alpha Prime Grip 200mm ext| Virpil CM3 Throttle | VPC Rotor TCS Base w/ Alpha-L Grip| Point Control V2|Varjo Aero| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBStu Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 I just learned about the FPAS page a month or so ago. When I am flying a mission and am starting to head to the carrier I set the tacan so I then have distance to carrier. Then I check FPAS which has a range #. Since I suck at tanking from a plane, I am always happy to see a range # larger than carrier distance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Clark Posted March 24, 2021 Share Posted March 24, 2021 7 hours ago, CBStu said: I just learned about the FPAS page a month or so ago. When I am flying a mission and am starting to head to the carrier I set the tacan so I then have distance to carrier. Then I check FPAS which has a range #. Since I suck at tanking from a plane, I am always happy to see a range # larger than carrier distance. You don't even necessarily need to use the FPAS Page for this. With a TACAN selected, the estimated amount of fuel remaining at the TACAN location will be displayed in the HSI data block. Same for the currently selected waypoint. 4 Oil In The Water Hornet Campaign. Bunny's: Form-Fillable Controller Layout PDFs | HOTAS Kneeboards | Checklist Kneeboards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkFire Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 37 minutes ago, Bunny Clark said: You don't even necessarily need to use the FPAS Page for this. With a TACAN selected, the estimated amount of fuel remaining at the TACAN location will be displayed in the HSI data block. Same for the currently selected waypoint. That's also very good to know, all the more reason to make use of the TACAN system. System Spec: Cooler Master Cosmos C700P Black Edition case. | AMD 5950X CPU | MSI RTX-3090 GPU | 32GB HyperX Predator PC4000 RAM | | TM Warthog stick & throttle | TrackIR 5 | Samsung 980 Pro NVMe 4 SSD 1TB (boot) | Samsung 870 QVO SSD 4TB (games) | Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. Personal wish list: DCS: Su-27SM & DCS: Avro Vulcan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machalot Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 21 hours ago, Bunny Clark said: You don't even necessarily need to use the FPAS Page for this. With a TACAN selected, the estimated amount of fuel remaining at the TACAN location will be displayed in the HSI data block. Same for the currently selected waypoint. What does it assume for altitude, power, and speed to calculate predicted fuel remaining? "Subsonic is below Mach 1, supersonic is up to Mach 5. Above Mach 5 is hypersonic. And reentry from space, well, that's like Mach a lot." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBStu Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 On 3/24/2021 at 5:38 PM, Bunny Clark said: You don't even necessarily need to use the FPAS Page for this. With a TACAN selected, the estimated amount of fuel remaining at the TACAN location will be displayed in the HSI data block. Same for the currently selected waypoint. That is great info. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunny Clark Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 On 3/25/2021 at 2:12 PM, Machalot said: What does it assume for altitude, power, and speed to calculate predicted fuel remaining? I believe it uses current altitude and fuel flow. So if you want to know your best mach or altitude for range or endurance, you'll need to check the FPAS Page. But for a quick check of fuel remaining at destination, you can just look at the HSI. 1 Oil In The Water Hornet Campaign. Bunny's: Form-Fillable Controller Layout PDFs | HOTAS Kneeboards | Checklist Kneeboards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S. Low Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 This thread has learned me things. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie Nelson Posted March 30, 2021 Share Posted March 30, 2021 On 3/24/2021 at 4:11 AM, kengou said: It changes greatly based on altitude and conditions. FPAS page gives you the speed to match based on mach number for either best range or best endurance. Best endurance is usually around 0.5 mach or lower. Best range I've seen between 0.65 - 0.75 mach depending on just how high you cruise at. It should also vary depending wind, weight, drag coefficient (load out) temperature and air density (pressure altitude). i7700k OC to 4.8GHz with Noctua NH-U14S (fan) with AORUS RTX2080ti 11GB Waterforce. 32GDDR, Warthog HOTAS and Saitek rudders. HP Reverb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass2-1 Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Great thread folks. Thanks to all contributing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodo Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 I am old fashioned and often use the fuel flow rates as a measure. I try to keep my fuel flow rates between 27-36 on the Hornet when cruising. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swift. Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 Alternatively, you can estimate best range or endurance by using AOA: 4.2 = Best Range 5.6 = Best Endurance Of course, this doesn't work in DCS. 1 476th Discord | 476th Website | Swift Youtube Ryzen 5800x, RTX 4070ti, 64GB, Quest 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machalot Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 1 minute ago, Swiftwin9s said: Alternatively, you can estimate best range or endurance by using AOA: 4.2 = Best Range 5.6 = Best Endurance Of course, this doesn't work in DCS. Seems like there are a lot of assumptions built into this. Whether a given AoA is compatible with level flight depends on weight, altitude, and airspeed. For example, if it requires afterburner to fly at 4.2 deg AoA I don't see how that could be best range. Do you know what the assumptions are? "Subsonic is below Mach 1, supersonic is up to Mach 5. Above Mach 5 is hypersonic. And reentry from space, well, that's like Mach a lot." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swift. Posted April 5, 2021 Share Posted April 5, 2021 6 minutes ago, Machalot said: Seems like there are a lot of assumptions built into this. Whether a given AoA is compatible with level flight depends on weight, altitude, and airspeed. For example, if it requires afterburner to fly at 4.2 deg AoA I don't see how that could be best range. Do you know what the assumptions are? 4.2 AOA but not faster than 0.85 IMN. Other than that, its just those AOAs straight. The AOAs are what FPAS is flying you towards to achieve max range or endurance. 476th Discord | 476th Website | Swift Youtube Ryzen 5800x, RTX 4070ti, 64GB, Quest 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobertsen Posted April 6, 2021 Share Posted April 6, 2021 16 hours ago, Machalot said: Seems like there are a lot of assumptions built into this. Whether a given AoA is compatible with level flight depends on weight, altitude, and airspeed. For example, if it requires afterburner to fly at 4.2 deg AoA I don't see how that could be best range. Do you know what the assumptions are? AoA is a result of A/C-weight/aerodynamic loading: turning, airdensity (altitude) and airspeed You don't even need altitude in the equation, as IAS already accounts for airdensity This is atleast my understanding of aerodynamics It could be wrong, I do have flaws Sometimes you need A/B for ideal flight. F.ex. ideal climb-speed, set on FPAS-page. With a max-loaded Hornet, you will not be able to achieve the ideal climb-speed without A/B. 1 First become an aviator, then become a terminator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimRobertsen Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 I just had to test it out The "Heavy" at 40k ft is greyed out because the Hornet really didn't want to fly with that weight at that altitude So, those numbers aren't worth looking too much at First become an aviator, then become a terminator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swift. Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 1 hour ago, TimRobertsen said: I just had to test it out The "Heavy" at 40k ft is greyed out because the Hornet really didn't want to fly with that weight at that altitude So, those numbers aren't worth looking too much at As previously reported, its all out of whack right now. 1 476th Discord | 476th Website | Swift Youtube Ryzen 5800x, RTX 4070ti, 64GB, Quest 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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