Bingo fuel - most adequatre thrust for saving?

[eFirehawk]

Hello everyone,

 

If my fuel goes Bingo and I'm at Narnia, how to calculate on the fly the best engine thrust to go back to base which will save the most fuel? :)

 

I found myself in that situation yesterday, I managed to get back to base just fine but on the way I didn't know if the fuel was gonna be enough. :noexpression:

 

I don't think I can calculate on the fly the total weight of the plane taking into consideration current fuel, gun rounds, what's under the wings and my body weight after an all-you-can-eat buffet, so in that case I would assume my A-10 would be relatively light, not having much weight from weapons, such as maybe two bombs, 2 Sidewinders, a TGP and an ECM Pod with about 1000lbs of Fuel :D

 

So, do you guys know a simple way ( doesn't have to be very accurate, just something I could calculate in my head ) to find a good airspeed based on altitude to get the most of my remaining fuel? :)

 

Thanks in advance

Edited December 2, 2013 by eFirehawk

[GGTharos]

First off, you should know what your bingo fuel is (all 'bingo' calls in the game are set at 1500 units. Completely inadequate for most purposes, real life bingo warnings are set by the pilot to whatever the pilot desires).

 

Bingo fuel = get to base + 2000lbs for safety margin, ie. you are supposed to land with 2000lbs of fuel (that one depends from plane to plane), NOT bingo fuel = got to base, 100lbs remaining.

 

If you have an emergency situation such as the one you seem to be describing, jettison all stores (weight's not the only problem. Drag is also a factor, and a triple-mav launcher is very very draggy, for example), and start climbing at best climb speed to as high as you can (say 30000', more if you can, but if the distance to base is short then you don't need to go that high), then maintain the long range AoA, and the fuel consumption will take care of itself. No calculating anything.

 

If you want to do the math in your head, you can try to watch the fuel flow gauges, change thrust and see how much fuel they consume, then wait until your speed stabilizes so you can compute a ground speed and thus time it will take you to get to the base. Compare fuel flow with the amount of fuel remaining to see how much 'fuel time' you have left.

[Eddie]

Just fly with the AoA indicator in the best cruise band (first white band). Around 220 KIAS at most weights.

 

Best cruise alt will vary depending on weight and drag, so needs to be calculated in advance.

 

But, what GG said.

[Hansolo]

Forgive my ignorance. I thought there weren't any bingo fuel calls in the A-10C :music_whistling:

Do you know if the set value of 1500 unit is set in hardcode or can it be found in the lua.

 

Cheers

Hans

[GGTharos]

You're right, in the A-10C there's no bingo setting, you're the bingo monitor. I was thinking FC planes.

[Hansolo]

Ah. Thanks for clarifying. Much appreciated.

 

Cheers

Hans

[Flagrum]

First off, you should know what your bingo fuel is (all 'bingo' calls in the game are set at 1500 units. Completely inadequate for most purposes, real life bingo warnings are set by the pilot to whatever the pilot desires).

Hrm, how would one configure the bingo fuel warning in an A-10C ... IRL? I've seen it for a F-16 (BMS), I think, but I have no idea where to start looking in the Hog. Probably loaded via DTS, but it would certainly accessible in the cockpit as well, maybe somewhere hidden in the CDU?

[GGTharos]

Sorry, I totally forgot that the A-10C does not seem to have a bingo bug. You can't configure it anywhere. You are the bingo bug :)

 

Hrm, how would one configure the bingo fuel warning in an A-10C ... IRL? I've seen it for a F-16 (BMS), I think, but I have no idea where to start looking in the Hog. Probably loaded via DTS, but it would certainly accessible in the cockpit as well, maybe somewhere hidden in the CDU?

[Flagrum]

Sorry, I totally forgot that the A-10C does not seem to have a bingo bug. You can't configure it anywhere. You are the bingo bug :)

Heh, nobody called me that ever before. :o)

 

Well, I guess, I will now when I hit bingo fuel ... at least when the engines shut off ... for everything else my brain seems to be too laggy - hey, I even got sniped with my initial question here ... ;P

[GGTharos]

Just make a habit at glancing at your fuel gauge every five minutes. You don't need to read the number, just look at where the needles are pointing. :)

[Ventus_Clu]

IRL, in the RAF at least Bingo is calculated at

 

Est. fuel from tgt area to home (pre-calculated inc. weather, wind, transit level) + 1 IFR approach at HOME + Est Fuel to predetermined diversion airfield (pre-calculated inc. weather, wind, transit level) + 1 IFR/VFR approach (based on the forecast weather at diversion airfield)

 

It involves a lot of pre planning (which I know not everyone does) but it allows you to attempt to land at your destination and if the weathers too bad (In the RAF if your not visual by 200ft then go around) goto your diversion and attempt to land

 

We get a high proportion of our emergencies from when we change the diversion state to an airfield further away and the aircrew are at the end of the sortie and get told you need X amount more fuel, then incomes the emergency call...

[lobo]

On the topic of fuel and Bingo...

 

Lobo's DCS A-10C Normal Checklist & Quick Reference Handbook **Updated to Revision 8c**

 

Revision 8c includes several editorial changes, corrections and additions. The RWR threat chart and Mission data card have been updated. Two new charts have been added to help with performance planning.

 

Have you wondered how much fuel is actually required for a particular mission? or what is the BINGO fuel? To help answer these questions I have added two new charts to aid those looking for more realistic performance planning. The first new chart is a drag index chart which is helpful when getting into the performance charts. (I’ve added space on the mission data card to record the drag index on each station.) The second new chart is a fuel planning worksheet, which should be quite helpful in calculating mission fuel load, Playtime fuel , BINGO fuel, and landing weight. Note: the user will still be required to go into the T.O. 1A-10A-1-1 performance charts for calculating unknown factors in the fuel planning worksheet. I suggest the following charts from T.O. 1A-10A-1-1; Figure A4-1 (Optimum Cruise Altitude for Short Range Missions), Figure A3-1 (Maximum Thrust Climb, 2 sheets), Figure A4-3 (Constant Altitude Cruise, two sheets), and A6-2 (Combat Fuel Flow). I’ve also added space on the mission data card to record the drag index (read from the new drag index chart), on each station.

 

Full details of changes in this revision are noted in the summary of changes located on page 42.

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/172905/