Author Topic: Metric gauges? (Read 1080 times)

Lusche · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2007, 01:44:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LTARsqrl
Then why is it, that when I am blasting away at men/women in buffs, they are 3.0K +/- above my Ostwind. Or if school is out, flying Lancs, Liberators and Fortresses 100m above ground Carpet bombing everything in sight with impunity.
Those aren't yards. Those are Metric Meters and Kilometers.

Same thing for armor battles. Distance is measured in Metric units.

Seems like it is a mixed system.

LTARsqrl <>

It is not. Distances are given in yards and kiloyards.
1K = 1 kiloyard= 1000yrds

scottydawg · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:39:15 PM »

I think that feet, miles and mph are standardized international measurements in flight. Not meters or kph.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

scottydawg · « **Reply #17 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:41:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lusche
It is not. Distances are given in yards and kiloyards.
1K = 1 kiloyard= 1000yrds

1000 yards is 914 meters. So, kinda close.

Brooke · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:14:39 PM »

If we used the actual units on gauges in the actual aircraft, we'd have to contend with kph and meters for some aircraft (German, IJAAF, Russian, Italian), mph and feet in others (USAAF, RAF, unless RAF was knots), and knots and feet in others (USN, and maybe RN?). Also, I'm not sure if IJN used kph or knots in the aircraft.

I've flown in games that had that, and it was really hard to switch around among aircraft -- at least for me it was hard to get used to. You can always do seat-of-the-pants flying, but if you want to check things like your speed, altitude, and rate of climb quickly in combat situations, you need to have the feel of all the different measurement systems then.

Also, if you know stats on aircraft and then want to know, as you are being chased by a Spit 16, say, "Is a Spit 16 faster or slower than the plane I'm in?", multiple systems make it more difficult to know.

Ghastly · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:38:47 PM »

In counterpoint, I've never had any real problem switching units as I've switched plane types in other sims that do so. Oddly enough, when I do fly a sim that mixes it up, I mentally tend to think of height in meters but speed in mph regardless of which aircraft I fly. The only guage that gives me any real trouble doing "on the fly conversions" is rate of climb.

The bigger problem I've found with more accurately represented guages in some sims is being able to actually read them on a computer screen in the first place.

But... that's just me. I wouldn't mind if they were in true units. And I don't see what it would impact anyone else if the option to always display feet and mph. Especially with the E6B that's always in standardized units.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2007, 02:32:05 PM »

It would be cool to see an option though... maybe during game installation or possibly before starting play... US or METRIC measurements.

It seems like it would be simple to make a second set of gauges for the METRIC setting... and beyond that the only difference would be that the distance icon would have to be "re-calibrated" from 1000 yard measurements into kilometers.

Tiger · « **Reply #21 on:** August 27, 2007, 10:43:48 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by TinmanX
Actually, Britain is officially a Metric country. It is taught in schools and used throughout, however, Imperial measurements are often displayed alongside their Metric equivalents. This is part of the phasing system of introducing metric to the country - which started in the late 60's, fading the Imperial system out slowly so as not to adversely effect the older generation who have spent so long with Imperial.

The U.S tried to adopt the Metric system but did it in a kind of overnight "Here it is!" way. It didn't really catch on, I understand.

-Yes we Americans can thank the British for giving us their measurement system and then bailing out to join the metric world.-

On topic: I've played games where the gauges were based off of their proper measurements. It is confusing when going back and forth between nationalities.

Furious · « **Reply #22 on:** August 27, 2007, 01:23:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Tigger29
It would be cool to see an option though... maybe during game installation or possibly before starting play... US or METRIC measurements.

It seems like it would be simple to make a second set of gauges for the METRIC setting... and beyond that the only difference would be that the distance icon would have to be "re-calibrated" from 1000 yard measurements into kilometers.

HT's point about communication is the most likely the most important reason for not having dual gauges. Your teammates always know when you say, "he's at 16K going about 350", what you mean.

warhed · « **Reply #23 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:09:38 PM »

what are the convergence settings in? feet or yards?

2bighorn · « **Reply #24 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:24:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by scottydawg
I think that feet, miles and mph are standardized international measurements in flight. Not meters or kph.

Nope

TEShaw · « **Reply #25 on:** August 27, 2007, 04:28:06 PM »

my fellow Americans...

Learning the Metric System is in the first week of high school Physics.

Please return to high school and pass those tests you failed so long ago; or, take the first Physics or Chemistry course in your life.

regards, TEShaw