Next FSO: Bougainville Privateers: Solomons 1943

[SmokinLoon]

Amen to that. And the ones that porpoise up and down wildly, erratically, and the ones that perform immelmans and turn 180 without losing their drones (they warp like hell to keep up, but they stay with the lead).

About the only way to regulate engine settings in bombers that would otherwise go max throttle for bombing runs would be to regulate the amount of fuel they are allowed so they MUST pull back on the manifold pressure and RPM's.  All it would take is for one of the designers to take up each and every bomber under the peramters of the arena settings and gauge it out.  I'd help with that data gathering.  I'm tired of historical scenarios being the brunt of jokes because they are not accurate but to the models of planes being used (i.e. bombers didnt fly bombing runs with full throttle).  In the Battle of Britain, the Hurri's and Spit's didnt have but one swipe before the Ju88 was out of reach.  It appears as if in this scenario the same thing could very well happen.

[bongaroo]

About the only way to regulate engine settings in bombers that would otherwise go max throttle for bombing runs would be to regulate the amount of fuel they are allowed so they MUST pull back on the manifold pressure and RPM's.  All it would take is for one of the designers to take up each and every bomber under the peramters of the arena settings and gauge it out.  I'd help with that data gathering.  I'm tired of historical scenarios being the brunt of jokes because they are not accurate but to the models of planes being used (i.e. bombers didnt fly bombing runs with full throttle).  In the Battle of Britain, the Hurri's and Spit's didnt have but one swipe before the Ju88 was out of reach.  It appears as if in this scenario the same thing could very well happen.

Everytime I've been in a buff formation for a scenario we have never run at full throttle.  It is impossible to keep 8+ people in formation if your lead is running anywhere near full throttle.  Ask Kermit, the seasoned cat herder.

[Saxman]

About the only way to regulate engine settings in bombers that would otherwise go max throttle for bombing runs would be to regulate the amount of fuel they are allowed so they MUST pull back on the manifold pressure and RPM's.  All it would take is for one of the designers to take up each and every bomber under the peramters of the arena settings and gauge it out.  I'd help with that data gathering.  I'm tired of historical scenarios being the brunt of jokes because they are not accurate but to the models of planes being used (i.e. bombers didnt fly bombing runs with full throttle).  In the Battle of Britain, the Hurri's and Spit's didnt have but one swipe before the Ju88 was out of reach.  It appears as if in this scenario the same thing could very well happen.

Making drones go poof if a pilot exceeds the bomber's typical level cruise speed would certainly help. Or you could impose a hard speed limit, at which point drones instantly pop regardless of plane type (say, anything over 280mph).

[Krusty]

That would reduce the ability of bomber formations to dive so fast even fighters are creaking to chase them. Did you know the Ki67 can dive in excess of 400mph without losing any parts? It only starts creaking at that speed, and will keep a formation.

B24s and other bombers can go almost as fast, 350 TAS.

[SmokinLoon]

Everytime I've been in a buff formation for a scenario we have never run at full throttle.  It is impossible to keep 8+ people in formation if your lead is running anywhere near full throttle.  Ask Kermit, the seasoned cat herder.

Sure, the lead is going to cut throttle toa small degree to allow everyone to catch up and maintain proper formation, etc.  However, if the max speed of the B24J in AH2 is 265mph at 15k (I didnt look up the number Im just throwing these out for ska of an example), I doubt the flight lead is cutting throttle back to actual true air speed is of a historical value (i.e. 180-200mph, iirc).  No, I doubt it, I'd be willing to be that those "reduced" air speeds are still 250mph plus when max is 265mph.     

[bongaroo]

Sure, the lead is going to cut throttle toa small degree to allow everyone to catch up and maintain proper formation, etc.  However, if the max speed of the B24J in AH2 is 265mph at 15k (I didnt look up the number Im just throwing these out for ska of an example), I doubt the flight lead is cutting throttle back to actual true air speed is of a historical value (i.e. 180-200mph, iirc).  No, I doubt it, I'd be willing to be that those "reduced" air speeds are still 250mph plus when max is 265mph.     

Again I'm going to disagree.  The large formations of multiple bomber pilots are easy pickings if they run at or close to full throttle.  Their spacing easily opens up, god forbid they need to attempt a turn, and they generally have to worry more about placement as opposed to gunning.

I've flown bombers with formations in multiple scenarios and FSO's.  We often will be found with our throttles back to cruise.

It is more of an issue with me in the MAs where it is often a single formation of unescorted bombers with the throttle firewalled.  If they start a shallow dive good luck getting many passes on them.

[SmokinLoon]

Again I'm going to disagree.  The large formations of multiple bomber pilots are easy pickings if they run at or close to full throttle.  Their spacing easily opens up, god forbid they need to attempt a turn, and they generally have to worry more about placement as opposed to gunning.

I've flown bombers with formations in multiple scenarios and FSO's.  We often will be found with our throttles back to cruise.

It is more of an issue with me in the MAs where it is often a single formation of unescorted bombers with the throttle firewalled.  If they start a shallow dive good luck getting many passes on them.

You must not have flown in the Battle of Britain scenario then.     We got one swipe in our Spit I's at the Ju88's prior to being left in the dust.  Even when we were able to get alt and come down fast, we usually didnt get a second chance because the Ju88's were truckin'.  As Krusty pointed out, in Bougainville the B24's will be able to almsot match or outrun all but the "Franks".   

Historically, bombers cruised at under 200mph for bombing runs.  While there are obviously exceptions to the rule, the overwhelming majority of bomber formations in AH2, scenario or MA, run at 90+% throttle during bombing runs.