Strange behavior during Reforger II, mission #2 CAP [OB MT]

[draconus]

OK, I knew there were problems expected in this mission but decided to try it anyway - it ended with eternal south CAP and then trying to catch the tanker which went RTB, all while flying on fumes. But that's not about it.

During the South CAP I got into some strange problems on one of the turns. The aircraft started slowing down like having huge drag or added weight. None of the instruments showed anything suspisious, nothing in the the external view either (wings at 22°, no gear, flaps, spoilers or airbrakes engaged). I was at 29k ft, 8k lbs total fuel, with empty bags, 1xSW, 4xSP, cruising 190kts barely holding 10 units AoA at MIL! I was flying like that a couple of turns, trying not to fall down, until it fixed itself letting me to go back to normal CAP speed and altitude without problems like I suddenly lost tens of thousands pounds. It happened again a few times later but I figured I can fix it with just one harder pull or more aggresive roll

Anyone got into something similar?

[reyco1987]

Sounds to me it may be normal if I'm understanding you correctly. If you get really slow in a big jet like that, the plane gets such a high AoA that it is basically aero-braking itself in midair and it takes a lot of power just to stay level. You actually burn less fuel once you get above a certain faster AoA and your aircraft isn't putting as much of its airframe into the slipstream.

In my experience, I don't really go below 250 KIAS or .7 mach (when up above 30k). I'll burn less fuel than trying to keep 10 AoA. I'm honestly confused myself why 10 is supposed to be "max fuel conservation" when you have to use higher power settings to maintain such a slow indicated airspeed... 

[draconus]

You misunderstood, it was most definitely not normal. I was forced to slow down and get below 30k because I was stalling on MIL - like suddenly having 20k lbs of fuel and full load of ordinance. Then I figured I can fix it by harder pull/roll and bam - I'm in light aircraft again and can fly faster and higher on low power setting.

[reyco1987]

So if you went back above 30k, went full burner to get up to say, mach .9, and then go back to mil power...you are saying the plane just will slow right back down to 10 units of AoA? If so then yea that definitely sounds abnormal.

[draconus]

20 hours ago, reyco1987 said:

So if you went back above 30k, went full burner to get up to say, mach .9, and then go back to mil power...you are saying the plane just will slow right back down to 10 units of AoA? If so then yea that definitely sounds abnormal.

It didn't happen again so I cannot test it but then, I didn't want to use AB because I was conserving fuel.