Combat Flaps

[bigsky406]

What planes have combat flaps and how do you control them?

ONEiJAQ

[Soulyss]

The only ones that I can think of are as follows

P-51's (not sure what the limit is but it's over 250mph I believe)
P38's and F6F's can deploy a notch of flaps at about 250mph

that's all that I can think of but I'm sure there are some others
the default keyboard keys for flaps "combat" or otherwise are

Q and W

Combat or manuver flaps usually just refers to one notch of flaps that can be deployed at higher speeds.

I'm sure someone will pipe up if I missed anything.

[OOZ662]

Any plane that has multiple levels of flaps (not just Up and Down) have combat flaps. If you can hit the flap key on the ground, have the sound stop, hit it again, and hear the flaps moving further, it has combat flaps.

[Ack-Ack]

Not necessarily.  

Let's take the P-38 for example.  The P-38 has Fowler Flaps (also known as maneuvering or combat flaps) and normal flap settings.  In early P-38s, the Lightning didn't have combat flaps just the normal flaps with 4 flap settings.  In wasn't until the F model that the Fowler Flaps were added to the P-38 to give it extra maneuverability in combat.

P-51 and the P-47s were two other planes that had combat flaps. Not sure the same can be said of some of the Navy planes.  I know the F6F had electonically controlled flaps, don't think the F6F had a combat flap setting though.



ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Soulyss


P-51's (not sure what the limit is but it's over 250mph I believe)
P38's and F6F's can deploy a notch of flaps at about 250mph

In the P-38L, you can also use the dive flaps as a high speed combat flap above 300mph IAS but is useless below 275mph IAS.



ack-ack

[Wilbus]

All planes in AH can use flaps to turn better. Some of them have "good" compat flaps like the P38, P51 and P47. P47 and P51 can extend theirs at 400mph.

You deploy/retract them with Q and W. While it helps you turn better, specially at low speeds you will need to learn to handle them, takes some getting used to.

[Soulyss]

Sorry I should have been more clear, The F6F in AH can use 1 notch of flaps at a relatively high speed but it is not a "combat" or "manuver" flaps in the since that the P38 or P51 has them.

[Kweassa]

What planes have combat flaps and how do you control them?

 "Combat flap" is not a special flap system in most cases. Rather, the official term was "combat setting" rather than "combat flap".

 Flaps are primarily stabilizer devices, which provides more lift and lower stall speed at a price of increased drag, mainly used in dangerous low-speed situations such as in take-offs and landings.

 However, it is quite evident that its effects can also be useful in certain combat situations - hence, some planes were designated a "combat setting" for flaps, which were sanctioned for use over much higher speed ranges than normal use.

 However, structurally, there is nothing different from a normal flap from a "combat flap" - both are same part of a same flap system, merely differing in the angle they are deployed. The only exception which a flap system was mainly geared towards specific combat use, would be some of the Japanese Naval fighters using mercury-triggered automatic flap systems - which deployed or retracted automatically according to the AoA of the plane.

 Therefore, basically, if you use flaps during combat, and it helps you achieve what you've desired, then effectively, you are using "combat flaps".