Fuel consumption

[mikeguy]

Great campaign so far!  Question for you.  Do you set the power settings for the AI?  Or does the AI choose its own.  If so can you share them?    

In every mission I'm way behind on fuel consumption compared to the AI.  I'm flying with all the published RPM and manifold pressure for cruise and climb.  Or even slightly below if I can get away with it and stay in formation.  I'm flying perfectly in trim.  No matter what, I have to drop my external tank well before the AI does.  I've also drained aux first, but no matter what my external fuel doesn't last anywhere near as long as the AI.  

I do make it back to base with a little bit of fuel to spare, so if this is just one of those AI DCS things where they magically consume less fuel, that's fine.  But figured I would ask.   

[Reflected]

I can not set the ai’s power during climb only while cruising. And they’ll cruise below max continuous at that speed. You can play around with the mixture too during crossing the channel back to England. 
 

Remember, Boxted was a 100 miles further north IRL,  that’s why I compensated by having only the emergency minimum in the aux tank. 
 

I never landed with less than 60-70 gallons during testing. 

[Reflected]

One more thing: the AI does not drop their tanks when empty, only when engaged in air to air combat - and this is accurate behavior. 

[mikeguy]

Ahh ok, maybe they are just holding on to their tanks then.  Thanks for the reply!