Originally posted by MANDO
The "secret" of outaccelerating lalas in dives is not a "secret" anymore
Hope no lala drivers are following this thread ...
Lala driver here..........
I unlinked my rpm last night and started using it (in an La7) to see if I could further enhance dive acceleration above normal level speed.
There is a short band of control approx between 360 and 400 where rpm is still adjustable. At higher speeds the prop rotates at full revs regardless.
I assume that indicated boost is a function of applied thrust so dropping revs in a dive with a resultant boost drop seemed counter productive. If I was in a WEP dive my default disabled my rpm control until WEP was off.
For the La7 this meant it was of little benefit below 8K unless WEP was off.
Unless AH models prop pitch into the prop drag equation.
I do not know if prop drag (in AH) is a function of rpm alone or a combination of rpm and prop pitch. I assume it should be the latter.
If this were the case then reducing the set engine speed (above 400) should tend to feather the prop even tho max rpm is maintained. Hence reducing prop drag.
Combat "feel" alone was insufficient to determine this.
However I started to use the rpm rotary as a sort of E loss adjuster in combat....wierd stuff seemed to occur which needs more checking. On one occasion in an in plain turn competition with another La7 I simply left throttle at full and fettled thrust with the rpm control..........my turn rate "seemed" to increase exponentially without heavy loss of air speed. It may only be that rpm gave me better fidelity of control in the top % band of thrust and I was able to set best corning speed more accurately.
But there is no doubt that I have been missing the prop drag for braking manouvers..........particular
ly in dive chasing an oppenent where I would normally over shoot.
Re the Bf109.
Actually the 109G was superior to the La7 in dive. I have copies of tests that record that once initial acceleration had been passed the 109 (G4 in this case) did indeed out dive the La7.
AH does not seem to model this.