Realistic groundspeed for aircrafts?

[Hoggorm]

Hello,

 

Is there a list somewhere with realistic groundspeeds for various aircrafts at different altitudes?

 

To me IAS seem more useful, but the mission editor uses GS instead. Often I see that the AI flights I set up either fly very slow or use afterburner to reach the (too high) GS I've set. It is time consuming having to check every AI aircraft to see if it has a realistic speed while flying.

[exil]

The ME needs the GS (as in real life) to calculate timings from way point to waypoint. I had the same problem too and am working with Mach number since then. The Mach number remains constant while the IAS varies with altitude mainly. 

[Hoggorm]

Do you have a list of mach numbers you use for various aircraft? Or is it just something you have learned?

[exil]

Basically, it's very simple: I just set the mach number and have a look how the IAS changes. 

 

For example: I want to set up a tanker for an A10C at 15.000ft. I set the Tanker to 15.000ft and set mach 0.5. Then i have a look at the IAS. If it's too fast for the A10, i will decrease the mach number again until the IAS at that given altitude fits.

 

So, basically, the ME will do the calculation for you. If your problems are afterburners, set a mach number around 0.68 for example ( i believe, that's cruise speed for the F18).

 

 

[Hoggorm]

Yeah, I see what you mean. Still you have to go in an out of the mission editor and check the speed at every given altitude for every new aircraft, so it is a somewhat time consuming process.

[exil]

1 hour ago, Hoggorm said:

Yeah, I see what you mean. Still you have to go in an out of the mission editor and check the speed at every given altitude for every new aircraft, so it is a somewhat time consuming process.

It depends what your plans are. If you only want to avoid the ai using afterburner, then you'll be good with Mach numbers. And also if you want to set up tankers. Just check, for example, if an aircraft is able to fly Mach 0.5 and your good. 

 

The problem with IAS is, that it will decrease with altitude. So flying 400 KIAS low level means at 35.000ft you'll fly 200KIAS but your Mach speed will basically the same. 

[Exorcet]

When you place an aircraft in the ME, it should be set to fly at a "reasonable speed" by default. Though I don't really use the defaults myself. Common values I use:

 

Jets

30000 ft - 450-500 knots

20000 ft - 400-450 knots

10000 ft - 300-400 knots

 

Props (non WWII)

30000 ft - 260-300 knots

20000 ft - 240-280 knots

10000 ft - 220-260 knots

 

Alternatively go by Mach number. Cruise Mach for jets at 30000+ft is around 0.8.

 

There is also a tanker speed chart posted somewhere on the forum, but I couldn't find it in a search just now.

[Hoggorm]

19 hours ago, Exorcet said:

Common values I use:

Thank you Exorcet!