Pylon drag

[bj229r]

Does anyone know if this is modeled, and if so, on what planes? Can I conclude that using a drop tank on a jug, for instance, would cost me a few mph after it's gone?

[Widewing]

Originally posted by bj229r
Does anyone know if this is modeled, and if so, on what planes? Can I conclude that using a drop tank on a jug, for instance, would cost me a few mph after it's gone?

Pylons were factory installed. Pylon drag is factored into over-all drag coefficients. Thus, there is no drag penalty for those planes so equipped (P-38, P-40, P-47, P-51, FM-2/F4F, F4U and F6F). For the listed American fighters, no special, non jettisonable bomb racks were used for any bombs currently available in the game. I've tested most of them in the game and there is no drag penalty after the bombs are released.

There are some exceptions, such as rocket tube installation on earlier American fighters and even late P-38s with the Christmas Tree racks (although this was a relatively low drag design).

My regards,

Widewing

[zorstorer]

WW what about the center line hard point for the 190F8?  The 500kg bomb seems to slow the plane about 10mph down low.  Just wondering if the rack itself will slow the plane much.

[bj229r]

Thanks Widwing:aok

[Krusty]

Here's a re-wording of WW's post:

If the pylon was fixed, it was there even if nothing was on it (P51, P47, P38, etc etc etc), and this drag is already in the FM. If the pylon was separate (109 rack, 190 rack, rocket tubes, etc) then after you use the item ON the pylon, the pylon is coded to add extra drag. Depending on the setup it could be as little as -2mph, or as much as -20 to -35mph (in a few cases).

[Grits]

What the Krusty one said. For example the D-9, even after you drop a DT or bomb, the drag from the remaining rack takes 7-8 MPH at sea level away from its clean speed. Similar results happen to the other LW planes when you choose a DT or bomb. I have not tested them, but by their design I doubt the "slipper" tanks on the Spits cause extra drag after they are dropped.

[F4UDOA]

Actually the F4U-1D and F4U-4 are quite heavily penalized by pylons and rocket stubbs.

The drag from the pylons is always there. It reduces top speed by almost 10MPH at all alts.

The rocket stubs reduce speed by an additional 8MPH once the rockets are gone.

In clean condition the -1D has a top speed of 367MPH at sealevel and the -4 over 380MPH at sea level.