The Big Show fuel usage

[CptTangerine]

Hi

I am playing The Big Show campaign and I'm struggling to complete the missions due to a lack of range.  I notice that I have the slipper tank attached.  Does this just get pumped into the main tank or is there something I should be doing to use the fuel in it?  On mission four, I have to fly about 300 miles and also fight at least one enemy plane and I don't seem to have nearly enough fuel for the job. 

Any hints or tips?

Thanks.

CptT

[grafspee]

As far as i know, in order to use drop tank fuel you need to close main fuel valve and open aux valve tank.

Edited September 27, 2022 by grafspee

[Art-J]

^ As per manual, indeed. I wonder, though, what's going to happen if both valves are open. Nothing bad, probably, but never tried it myself.

[grafspee]

13 minutes ago, Art-J said:

^ As per manual, indeed. I wonder, though, what's going to happen if both valves are open. Nothing bad, probably, but never tried it myself.

As i see it, when you open both, fuel from main tanks will be used mostly, because it is located higher then drop tank and drop tank line contain non return valve which adds up flow resistant even more. And idea is to use fuel from drop tank first:)

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by grafspee

[Art-J]

^ Yeah, figured the same while giving it a second thought a few minutes ago under the shower ;). It won't harm the engine, but won't drain the drop tank first either.

[CptTangerine]

Thanks.  I was having trouble working out that there was actually a second fuel cock for the drop tank.  I assumed that the drop tank just fed the other tanks automatically.  Then I checked the manual which didn't make it super clear (I didn't read the whole thing) and then I watched Laobi's profanathon on the matter and got the idea.  There seems to be a fair bit of stuff about the torpedo drop-tank but the slipper tank rarely gets a mention.  I wasn't sure if the slipper tank worked just like the torpedo tank or not.  As far as I can see it does.

I very nearly finished Mission 5 but took a hit to various engine parts on the way back and the engine conked out on me with a full tank of fuel (ish).  Scratched the paintwork up pretty badly on landing hitting a tree.

Thanks for the replies!

CptT

Edited September 27, 2022 by CptTangerine

[grafspee]

@CptTangerine Type of external tank does not matter, the principle is the same, as per manual take off and climb to 2000ft at main tank, then open aux tank valve and close main tank, when fuel pressure light turn on or engine cuts out,  retard throttle and close aux tank and open main tank when engine pick up again advance throttle.

Edited September 27, 2022 by grafspee

[CptTangerine]

Thanks.  That's very clear. 

[Mav87th]

Yea - as grafspee says. Crucial that you have actually taken off. If you switch to the external tank while on the ground your engine will cut from fuel starvations. 

[paulw10]

Haha. So funny. I was having trouble with this campaign until I noticed I had a centre drop tank fitted. You can do the whole channel transition on the drop tank. I only noticed when I ordered my buddies to engage, and I saw them jettison the centre tank. I'd been doing the missions for a few weeks, each time trying to limp home. I even made it once. lol 

[Envee]

On 7/28/2023 at 7:31 PM, paulw10 said:

Haha. So funny. I was having trouble with this campaign until I noticed I had a centre drop tank fitted. You can do the whole channel transition on the drop tank. I only noticed when I ordered my buddies to engage, and I saw them jettison the centre tank. I'd been doing the missions for a few weeks, each time trying to limp home. I even made it once. lol 

Same here. I moved to the Spit from the mustang and there you just select the tank and that is all you do.

For my first 20 hours i was flying the mustang on very lean fuel as the switch was not even set to run. I figured that out later. I was limping all the way accross the channel and struggelign hard to even reach the height of the bombers. It would take me forever to get that high. That is when i said this cant be right as the plane was seriously having issues even getting to 20k. That is when the facepalm moment happened. You idjit, set mixture to run.

From then on no more issues. But it did teach me how to fly better and deal with temps, opening the vents and closing them and RPM settings.

With the spit you have to shut off main tank and then engage the drop tank. When empty i drop it and switch tanks.

I am on mission 4 now of The Big Show and i had to learn how to deal with fuel since i ran out of fuel on the first mission. Learned how to use it but fuel is still an issue. Main tank fuel was down to less than %20 once landed last mission (3). Will need to start using proper climbing/engine management technique now. I am worried about fuel as i was dogfighting  the last two missions and still had fly home.

 

The limits on are that plaque in the cockpit.

cruise ~2600 +4

Max Cont ~2500 +7

Max Climb ~2800 +9

Takeoff 3000 =12

Edited Wednesday at 05:40 AM by Envee