1.0 fuel burn in main arena

[AWwrgwy]

I have been switching to flying the Spitfire Mk14 and even on cruise settings, its extreemly difficult to have enough fuel to climb to combat altitude for an extended mission.

Several times, I have tried escorting bombers and have not been able to engage the intercepting fighters due to critical fuel shortage.

The Mk14 needs to be flown at 18,000 feet or above 23,000 feet for maximum effectivness. A full power in a climb that is 5 minutes to 18k and another 2 to 23k. To acheive 400 mph requires full power. Fuel burn at x2 is around 270 GPH

The spitfire's small belly tank at x2 multiplyer is nealy exhausted by 18000 feet.

It's almost as if it is designed in an historical manner.  Spits didn't escort bombers much past the coast of France because they didn't have the range.

The secret to everyone's range 'problem' is to throttle back.  Fuel management.  I regularly fly a Yak and often take 3/4 of a tank if I'm not going over 2 sectors away.  Aside from the fact that I don't expect to live long enough to run out of gas, barring a fuel hit, with 5-7 minutes of fuel left at full throttle, if I'm  not being chased, I can reduce power to max cruise and make it back to base.

If you can't make it back to base or running out of fuel faster than you think, you are simply not using all the resources that are available to you.



wrongway

[B4Buster]

I'm going to be rude and not read past page 1...............

But...  As in the "real" war, is what we have.  The same fighter squadron never went a full mission.  In the Pacific you had Ponies bring the bombers up to alt and then go home.  Jugs, from a separate base now meet the bombers at drop alt and follow along with them.  Same Jugs never escorted them all the way home.

On long missions, another group of Jugs may be needed.

2.0 keeps the game close to the truth.

Everyone is so obesssed with the pony and forgets the 38! 
Many times 38s would escort the bombers to the target, and jugs would meet them on their way back to escort the rest of the way, or vise versa

[LLogann]

Darn..... You're right!  My bad!!! 

Everyone is so obsessed with the pony and forgets the 38! 
Many times 38s would escort the bombers to the target, and jugs would meet them on their way back to escort the rest of the way, or vise versa

[chewie86]

I've flown for 3 sectors in total (with a couple of fights) in the Yak-9T with 100% fuel, just used the throttle at 60 %, btw there are no differences between going full power or 80 % throttle in leveled flight.

2.0 keeps the game close to the truth.

Amen bro'

[Puck]

I've flown for 3 sectors in total (with a couple of fights) in the Yak-9T with 100% fuel, just used the throttle at 60 %, btw there are no differences between going full power or 80 % throttle in leveled flight.Amen bro'

Actually there is, but power curves are a CUBED function, so for half the specific fuel burn you loose a few knots of airspeed.  If you take some time to experiment you can go twice as far on a tank of gas at (nearly) the same speed and all you need to do is actually pay attention to the throttle.

This is fodder for the "realism" guys, of which I'm one.  Fuel management just adds to the immersion and gives you something else to think about.  Now all I need is mixture control... 

[chewie86]

Now all I need is mixture control... 

That would be awesome!

[Bronk]

I'd like to see buff burn bumped up to say 4.0 or even 5.0.

[Lusche]

I'd like to see buff burn bumped up to say 4.0 or even 5.0.

Bostin III with 100% fuel= 17mins of flight time at fb 4.0

[Bronk]

Bostin III with 100% fuel= 17mins of flight time at fb 4.0

Ok, then just the 4 engined buggers. 

[chewie86]

Ok, then just the 4 engined buggers. 

-1
then would take me forever (if I could) to take my b17 up to 25k .. nobody will fly buffs then lmao

[Bronk]

-1
then would take me forever (if I could) to take my b17 up to 25k .. nobody will fly buffs then lmao

But the you can be like  the rest of us. You actually have to consider the fuel load out for the task at hand. No more fft at 25% going anywhere you like.

[Lusche]

But the you can be like  the rest of us. You actually have to consider the fuel load out for the task at hand. No more fft at 25% going anywhere you like.

When flying a B-17 you don't take only 25% when planning to get to alt, to your target AND back. It's 37mins of fuel at takeoff.
25% is for the 10k one-way trip guys only. It's definitely not a "go anywhere you like"

[Bronk]

Lusche I'm not going to dispute your numbers. That would be foolish.
As for game play though... If many fighters are forced to carry 100%. Why not force many buffs the same?

People cry about the short duration of many fighter ac. I've yet to read one cry about buffs being short on fuel. Give them a taste of having to throttle back.

[Steel]

    A Lancaster is surely a 25 percenter and the B24 is not far behind. I dont agree with multiple fuel burn rates tho. You would basically encourage people to low level bomb. The ones that climb up to 15 to 20k really wont be effected much anyway. If they take the time currently it might just take them a little longer in the future. Personally I would like to see the bases farther apart and the fights higher. Once the fight gets above 15k the La-7s and the uber turn planes tend to get weeded out. Everyone wants to furbal and turn fight in the weeds but thats hardly even realistic. If its one thing I hate its starting a fight below 7k or so. All to often the fight heads for the deck (some good sticks take it up tho). I would love to see a furbal at 25k in the DA/MA one time. For me that would be reliving history (only if a little).

Steel

[Bronk]

Everyone wants to furbal and turn fight in the weeds but thats hardly even realistic.

Steel

Eastern front?