Author Topic: New F4U performance tests (Read 2548 times)

Widewing · « **on:** November 16, 2006, 11:58:35 AM »

I have tested all new F4Us (not the F4U-1C) for sea level speed. Fuel was 25%, no burn. WEP engaged.

F4U-1: 359 mph
F4U-1A: 366 mph
F4U-1D: 358 mph
F4U-4: 376 mph

Speed at 10K for F4U-1A: 392 mph (2 mph faster than F4U-1, 2 mph slower than La-7, 4 mph slower than Tempest).

Acceleration test for the F4U-1A, from 150 mph to 250 mph: 23.37 seconds, about 1 second faster than the F4U-1D.

F4U-1A time to climb to 10k from sea level beginning at 300 mph TAS, using WEP: 2:27.75, which is 7.7 seconds slower than F4U-1D (2:20.03)

I will test the F4Us for turn radius and turn rate later today...

Note that there is a bug in the airspeed indicators for the new F4Us. There is a large difference between IAS and TAS at sea level and TAS never agrees with E6B.

My regards,

Widewing

Widewing · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2006, 12:26:15 PM »

Preliminary turn radius and turn rate testing for the F4U-1A has been done.

Fuel 25%, zero burn. Standard test method, 3 timed circles, recording speed each circle. Two tests done and averaged.

Time: 54.84 seconds
Speed TAS: 99 mph
Turn radius: 422.6 feet
Turn rate: 19.71 degrees/second

Using Mosq's data for previous F4Us; turn radius comparison from smallest to largest.

F4U-1A: 422.6 feet
F4U-1: 425.3 feet
F4U-1D: 427.3 feet
F4U-4: 428.1 feet
F4U-1C: 443.4 feet

My regards,

Widewing

Lye-El · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2006, 12:50:16 PM »

Sounds like a fun bird!

viper215 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2006, 01:12:59 PM »

Screen shots!!

Krusty · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2006, 01:25:58 PM »

It's got horrible views, especially anywhere back or back-up. Anybody that flies it has a "pick me" sign on them

Views to the side are good, and left-back and right-back are decent, but there's this huge metal shroud literally over the back of your head that impedes vision. I'm not too crazy about "busy" feeling of this cockpit. Feels too busy. That's my opinion, mind you.

Flight wise, I couldn't say. I'm testing out rudder pedals and they're screwing with my abilities.

Balsy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2006, 01:29:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
It's got horrible views, especially anywhere back or back-up. Anybody that flies it has a "pick me" sign on them

Views to the side are good, and left-back and right-back are decent, but there's this huge metal shroud literally over the back of your head that impedes vision. I'm not too crazy about "busy" feeling of this cockpit. Feels too busy. That's my opinion, mind you.

Flight wise, I couldn't say. I'm testing out rudder pedals and they're screwing with my abilities.

If you were flying that thing in REAL combat, you'd kiss that fine piece of metal protecting your grape.

Its all perspective I guess

.

Balsy

stantond · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2006, 02:05:05 PM »

Hmm,

Looks like I may now be a F4U-1A combat pilot instead of the birdcage F4U-1. I need to check out fuel distribution and range first, but I'll enjoy the heck out of it either way. Thanks, and a belated thanks, Widewing for doing all these tests!

Regards,

Malta

Widewing · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2006, 02:37:15 PM »

Another thing to note about the F4U-1A.

If you take an external fuel tank or a bomb, after it is dropped the pylon/shackles remain.

This results in a speed reduction of 6 mph, or 360 mph at sea level.

Having had an opportunity to fly this plane in the TA against the P-38J and P-51B, I can say that Co-E, Co-alt, they're both in deep trouble, especially the Mustang.

Apparently, HTC has adjusted the F4U flight model a bit to increase torque. At low speeds, full flaps, they resist rolling to the right. To get them rolling to the right, power must be reduced substantially until it rolls to where you wish, then you can power back up.

My regards,

Widewing

Krusty · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:06:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Balsy
If you were flying that thing in REAL combat, you'd kiss that fine piece of metal protecting your grape.

Its all perspective I guess .

Balsy

Oh, to be sure!

However, in AH2 (not RL) most of my PWs come from HOs or top-down (I don't think the armor will cover me from that angle). Then again I've "gotten used to" the 109s so I can "get used to" the 1A hog.

Widewing · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2006, 04:31:43 PM »

F4U-1A speed at altitude tests. 25% fuel, WEP engaged.

406 mph @ 18,000 feet
411 mph @ 19,000 feet
419 mph @ 20,000 feet
416 mph @ 21,000 feet
414 mph @ 22,000 feet
407 mph @ 24,000 feet

My regards,

Widewing

Saxman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2006, 09:27:29 PM »

I'm trying to figure out if this is a glitch or intentional:

In the old F4U-1, when setting your fuel load it filled the main tank first, THEN filled the wing tanks. So at 50% internal fuel, the F4U-1 carried roughly 75% in the main tank, with the wing tanks dry. 75% fuel had full main, ~25% in each wing tank.

However when I upped the 1A, whatever I set for fuel load was the % loaded in ALL tanks. So at 50% I had 50% in the main, left and right tanks. 75% gave me 75% in all three, etc.

Is this right? Doesn't that end up working out to MORE than 50% or 75% fuel load.

SkyRock · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2006, 09:43:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
It's got horrible views, especially anywhere back or back-up. Anybody that flies it has a "pick me" sign on them

Views to the side are good, and left-back and right-back are decent, but there's this huge metal shroud literally over the back of your head that impedes vision. I'm not too crazy about "busy" feeling of this cockpit. Feels too busy. That's my opinion, mind you.

Flight wise, I couldn't say. I'm testing out rudder pedals and they're screwing with my abilities.

View schmiew!

Saxman · « **Reply #12 on:** November 16, 2006, 11:07:30 PM »

Views aren't so bad once you move them a little.

Creton · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2006, 11:44:07 PM »

WOOT!!1 more hogs to kill in my K4.

Havent noticed it has any real advantage against a k4, in any type of fight.

Corsairs typically dont give me bother anyway,only thing Ive noticed about it is
the initial turn rate seems better.Can still catch it at alt or on the deck.

Has the initial turn rate increased?WW

Saxman · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2006, 11:59:29 PM »

Did they increase the dive acceleration on the F4Us? The 1A SERIOUSLY hauls bellybutton in full power dives. I've been out-accelerating La-7s and Spixteens with the nose down, which in the old 1D didn't happen unless I had a big lead to start with.

Don't know about the turn rate, Creton, (although considering you've got a -1 turn radius with the engine power of the 1D...) but SERIOUSLY watch out for her in the zoom. Last night I went full vertical at about 450mph and jumped from the deck to right around 10k in somewhere about 2 minutes (best guesstimate).