Firewalled throttles

[coolts]

I’ve been playing the A-10 missions / campaign in FC2.0 through again to get ready for DCS:A-10 & the new TM hog HOTAS and I noticed that compared to, say the F-15 and Falcon for instance, I tend to fly around with the throttles at 100% pretty much most of the time apart from landing manoeuvres or for really tight turns in valleys for instance.

 

Is this realistic in a real A-10? Are none afterburning jets throttles floored during combat zone ops? After all, you don't want to be bumbling around at 200kts over tanks and shilkas

 

That would take some of the shine off the new HOTAS just to have to “spinal tap” the throttles foregoing their supposed new sensitivity and accuracy of the new DCS FM.

[Ragtop]

I would assume that you'd fly slower en route to the IP, maybe 75-80% power? Then depending on your tasking, you'd fly for whichever necessities present themselves.

 

Remember, all the time theres no threats below you, you've got all the time in the world! (Unless you've got troops waiting for you!)

 

I think that in sims like FC2 we get bored, because there is very little to do control wise while you're en route. In DCS there'll probably be so much going on in the pit that we'll wish these birds would slow down!

[shackman]

I would assume that you'd fly slower en route to the IP, maybe 75-80% power? Then depending on your tasking, you'd fly for whichever necessities present themselves.

 

Remember, all the time theres no threats below you, you've got all the time in the world! (Unless you've got troops waiting for you!)

 

I think that in sims like FC2 we get bored, because there is very little to do control wise while you're en route. In DCS there'll probably be so much going on in the pit that we'll wish these birds would slow down!

Well said Ragtop, I agree while enroute to the target I just sit back and enjoy the view, or if I'm in a rush speed up the time compression.

[thisisentchris87]

I find time compression cheating. I don't mind long hauls.

 

I departed from an airport in an IL-62 (for FS9) somewhere on the west cost or Midwest (I can't remember it was a while ago) and arrived in an airport here in my home state of Florida. I did this in real time and took me 4 hours.

 

It had a full simulation of the navigation system of the IL-62 so I kept busy by playing with the navigation instruments and displays.

 

Then I flew from JFK to an airport in Iceland I think. Took me somewhere around the same time.

 

I love simulators........

 

:P

 

In these cases a handled the throttle to get me there in a reasonable amount of time while conserving my fuel. Although I left with my tanks full and the IL-62 is able to hold a lot of fuel. But for the A-10C I would agree with the above it depends on the situation.

Edited September 28, 2010 by thisisentchris87

[Panzertard]

In real A-10 you would throttle back, watch the instruments and make sure your engines was there for the returntrip.

In the sim it's easy ignore those facts because you can always refly.

 

After a while flying you too may get a kick out of flying more slowly and not having to refly. And spotting all of those threats before they spot you.

[jerda]

The new Warthog Hotas throttle goes to "11". :)

 

It's harder to fly in formation when you're at 100%. People cant catch up.

[cheezy]

If I get bored in long flights I'll take a nap while flying(flew from Cali to Florida in a c-130, that took a while)

[thisisentchris87]

If I get bored in long flights I'll take a nap while flying(flew from Cali to Florida in a c-130, that took a while)

 

Heh, that reminds me of the time I flew into a mountain because I was reading a manual. :P

[coolts]

Cheers guys. Jerda, I hadn't considered formation flying. Now I come to think about it, there are several factors contributing to my FC2.0 A-10 bad habits.

 

· In the A-10 campaign i rarely have to co-ordinate with other assets therefore TOT is never critical, therefore 100% throttle.

 

· Transitioning from fast jets to the a-10 is a lesson in patience sometimes. “Are we there yet?” syndrome, therefore 100% throttle.

 

· Unlike Falcon, single player is never a wingman therefore no need for formation worries apart from slowing up to allow my flight to form up after takeoff, then 100% throttle.

 

· With no afterburner on the A-10 there is no massive fuel consumption increase, (seems quite linear. Well compared to fast jets) when at 100%.

 

· As Panzertard pointed out, engine preservation would make me slow down. I assume it’s modelled in DCS as in FC2.0 I can burn all day at 100%.

 

To cap it all, I usually only get an hour or so per night for simming as RL gets in the way, and I never liked time compression as things have a nasty habit of popping up.

 

Habits will have to change with DCS:A-10! Looking forward to doing things properly.

[nomdeplume]

In FC2 I tend to cruise about on around 80% throttle, I think. In combat zones, I push it up to just shy of where the coloured mark is (yellow? red? can't remember now...). I only use 100% throttle when climbing out after an attack run, and even then I only use it if I have a particular reason to want that extra power. I figure that area is marked for a reason, and running within it constantly will damage the engine.

 

Of course, it's probably just a leftover marking from whatever jet the dial originally came from and has no relevance to the A-10... :D