To the ends of the atmosphere...

[Serenity]

Last night, I did it. I took my B-17G BEYOND its listed max. Servic altitude. For the first time ever, I bombed (Succesfully I might add) from 35,700 feet! It was a hell of a thing fighting it up there, after 32,000 it didnt want to climb at all, but I did it. I thought I would post this because I quite enjoyed the experience, and I suggest you all try to fly your favorite plane at its max. altitude, just to see what its like. Heres a screenshot (I expanded the altimiter in case you all dont beleive me) What can I say? Ive got a LOT of time on my hands...

[VooWho]

Very nice Serenity

I've done the same thing offline as well. I took a B-17 with 50% fuel and I think 12 500Ib bomb load and climbed to 33,000ft and had a succesful drop as will. It was awsome. Its alot nicer up there but its so cold so don't forget to bring extra clothing, and extra socks. The climb to about 28k takes about 15min and then to get to 30k it takes like another 10 lol.

[Lusche]

Originally posted by VooWho
The climb to about 28k takes about 15min and then to get to 30k it takes like another 10 lol.

What kind of rocket did you install in your B-17?
In my experience, it usually takes about 25 mins to get a 50% fuel Fortress from 5k to 25k, about 30 if starting at sea level.

[Krusty]

15k start field on the TA map, maybe?

[Serenity]

No, my first 30k felt like it took only 20 minutes. I have the whole 1hr 26min. recorded though, so I can give you an exact number. lol, with 50% fuel, by the time I hit 35,000 I only had 10 minutes of fuel left. I was able to glide back to base though (After fighting off two P-38s who had the patience to follow me that high)

[bozon]

HINT: ".wind 0 0 0 120"
and hang on tight...

[VooWho]

Originally posted by Lusche
What kind of rocket did you install in your B-17?
In my experience, it usually takes about 25 mins to get a 50% fuel Fortress from 5k to 25k, about 30 if starting at sea level.

Will I did mine offline and was on the map Ndils or something like that. I took off from the 6k base. To get to 28k it took between 15-20min.

[titanic3]

there's a H2H map where u spawn at 110k. before the patch, the atmosphere was 50k so we couldn't see anything.....but after the patch i tried it with a 163, and hit 896 mph, i saw the E6B. then i bailed at 40k, and took me 5 min to reach earth with parachute....i'll try WITHOUT para later..

[kennyhayes]

I Took a b24 off in the ta 30k field climbed to and eventully beyond it top
altuide of 38k. I had 6 minutes of fuel left and i droped my boombs to reach a height of 40k.Till i stalled and lost a wing.

[Karnak]

"Service Ceiling" is not the same as "Can't climb any higher", at least for the RAF.  For the RAF it was the altitude at which climb rate drops below 500ft/min or 250ft/min (I can't recall off hand).

[detch01]

Micky's short fat hand points to thousands of feet. His long skinny hand points to hundreds of feet (which is probably why one winds up and down faster than the other). 35.7k alt is still pretty high for a 17, so .



asw

[Serenity]

Originally posted by Karnak
"Service Ceiling" is not the same as "Can't climb any higher", at least for the RAF.  For the RAF it was the altitude at which climb rate drops below 500ft/min or 250ft/min (I can't recall off hand).

Yeah, i coulda kept going. But from 33 up, you cannot auto-climb (Or youll only do 50-100 FPM) and you need to level out periodically and slingshot yourself higher. Oh, and did I mention that above 35k when ever you press autolevel you dont level immidiatly? You begin by loosing 500 FPM, and over the course of the next 120 seconds you SLOWLY reach 0 FPM. Its not easy up there

[Anyone]

Originally posted by Karnak
"Service Ceiling" is not the same as "Can't climb any higher", at least for the RAF.  For the RAF it was the altitude at which climb rate drops below 500ft/min or 250ft/min (I can't recall off hand).

500ft/min it was

[Angus]

500 fpm.
I just took a Spit IX to its limits. Silly me did it in the online MA, so the fuel burn was too high, - I ran out of fuel (full + slipper) before I hit the roof. But I was at 44K.
Those could cruise at 43K in 1942 (keep formation), - and already there a problem occurs that does not have place in AH, - "bends", - pain in joints due to the low air pressure. Sort of a diving sickness actually.
At 50K, a normal person cannot breathe anymore due to the pressure, that means that the oxygen needs to be pressed down your lungs, - inverted breathing, for you will need to push the air out.
(However, if you have strong oxygen, you can keep from fading for minutes).
So, 50K is basically the limit unless there is either a pressure cabin or pressure breathing.
Anytning over 40K on some basis will be possible, but very painful.

[Serenity]

Originally posted by Angus
500 fpm.
I just took a Spit IX to its limits. Silly me did it in the online MA, so the fuel burn was too high, - I ran out of fuel (full + slipper) before I hit the roof. But I was at 44K.
Those could cruise at 43K in 1942 (keep formation), - and already there a problem occurs that does not have place in AH, - "bends", - pain in joints due to the low air pressure. Sort of a diving sickness actually.
At 50K, a normal person cannot breathe anymore due to the pressure, that means that the oxygen needs to be pressed down your lungs, - inverted breathing, for you will need to push the air out.
(However, if you have strong oxygen, you can keep from fading for minutes).
So, 50K is basically the limit unless there is either a pressure cabin or pressure breathing.
Anytning over 40K on some basis will be possible, but very painful.

Yeah, mine was in LW Orange, so the fuel-burn was killing me...