Ar234 Improvements

[Larry]

When/if the Ar234 is remodeled can we please have the chute for shorter landings. Also maybe find a way for the parascope to work. Kinda like if you press #2 you get a view from the "top" it the scope looking back down the spine of the plane.

[VonMessa]

 

[BaldEagl]

When/if the Ar234 is remodeled can we please have the chute for shorter landings. Also maybe find a way for the parascope to work. Kinda like if you press #2 you get a view from the "top" it the scope looking back down the spine of the plane.

   Especially the periscope.  Just have it use the look back key.

As to a chute I'm usually stopped before I get out of the skid marks at the end of the runway so not needed in my case.

[Larry]

As to a chute I'm usually stopped before I get out of the skid marks at the end of the runway so not needed in my case.

Same here if I have time to line up but sometimes your engines are hit and your to fast to land safely with wheels down but to slow to circle around. Of if your out of ammo and have a spitty running you down trying to vulch you.

[Rich46yo]

I agree. The fact that the 234 was one of the first, if not the first, aircraft to have a landing chute should be honored and included in the game. Its probably a lot easier to land in the game then it was real life, but still, the bird had a chute in real life so so should ours.

Ive only had to land it once under duress and would hate to have do so again. I avoid those situations in the 234 if I can. Basically I approach at 1,000' to 800', set one flap after Ive bled my speed down, and come in real flat avoiding high landing angles. I try and hit the numbers on the runway, shut engines as I start braking, and at about 80 mph to 100 mph set a second flap to aid in stopping. I also brake and zig zag the runway to aid in the slow down.

Haven't had any problems lately but Ive blown a few in the past and the landing is another reason I hang onto my RATOs unless I absolutely have to use them to egress. A few times they have saved my bacon when I saw I wasn't going to be able to stop in time and had to upp the bomber and circle again. That one time I had an engine shot out and was almost out of fuel. THEN! had to dump it into the closest runway, a canyon one. It was ugly but I made it.

[frank3]

You actually save the RATO's the entire flight, just for a possible touch 'n go?

Concerning the periscope, I read somewhere that it wasn't only used for the rear-guns, but also as a dive-bombing aim? I could be mistaken though.
Anyway, it would be great to see it working

Also, some (experimental) versions carried a ejection seat

[Rich46yo]

You actually save the RATO's the entire flight, just for a possible touch 'n go?

Concerning the periscope, I read somewhere that it wasn't only used for the rear-guns, but also as a dive-bombing aim? I could be mistaken though.
Anyway, it would be great to see it working

Also, some (experimental) versions carried a ejection seat

No, I save them for evasion. Most times I dont have to evade cause Im such a good planner, ergo; Often I have them left on while landing.

[aenigma]

Saving RATO's is just more drag on the aircraft. I see your point but keeping RATO only slows the A/C down that puts you in a situation that you would have to rely on them for escape. Using them for their intended use and then keeping the A/C speed up along with good SA is all you need to keep yourself safe.


The Periscope was considered by most pilots as useless and had the whole gun system removed to save weight.

[Rich46yo]

At 10,000' after you drop bombs you are going so fast only the fastest prop jobs in the game can catch you. "If even then, your over 400 mph". Even with 3 500 kg bombs on your at 389 mph. The reason to save the RATOs isn't so much the extra speed, "you dont need it", but the extra acceleration. The IB fighter, "normally dropping on you", makes his initial angle vector based on the speed your going when he first sees you. When you then fire you RATOs, along with a slight dive, you quickly get another 100 mph and totally screw up his vector. The end result is that after a RATO burn its basically impossible for any prop job to have a chance. Ive seen this time and time again.

I must be doing something right. Ive only been shot down in 234s twice.

Saving RATO's is just more drag on the aircraft. I see your point but keeping RATO only slows the A/C down that puts you in a situation that you would have to rely on them for escape. Using them for their intended use and then keeping the A/C speed up along with good SA is all you need to keep yourself safe.


The Periscope was considered by most pilots as useless and had the whole gun system removed to save weight.

[aenigma]

That is cool, whatever works for you. Just not for me with that extra drag. I prefer to just get my arse up, burn up the sky, drop my target, and get home.

[EskimoJoe]

Chute could be deployed Shift-G, like a tailhook.

[Rich46yo]

That is cool, whatever works for you. Just not for me with that extra drag. I prefer to just get my arse up, burn up the sky, drop my target, and get home.

On occasion I use them to get my speed up quickly after I level, if, all of a sudden, a target of opportunity opens up. Like yesterday when a VH had to be taken out. But generally I dont like to, or need to, use them at take off and find them to be an asset when left on. If only as a security blanket.

The few times Ive been shot down in the 234 have been times when I was turning and never saw the attacker. Generally tho I am cautious in them and take the time to at least make it to my target outside of conga lines.

[aenigma]

I would like to see tha drag chute added to the bird. For those who do not fly the 234, it still hold an incredible amount of E while approaching the air field. I recall a flight that during landing the gears came down, line up was correct, but as soon as I hit the runway the bird still had to much speed to properly stop. In front of me was possibly my stopping point, a hill at the end of the road. I throttle up which as you now takes the engine to get to full speed and start to sweat  thinking I am about to lose these bombers. Pulling back on the stick, the bird lifted off the runway and into a right banking turn, we met the hill as I expected the worst as the death grip on the joystick indicated. The bird replied back by bouncing off the side of the allowing me to level out and do another landing approach. It was the landing gears that saved the 234's from crashing!    So, yes, bring on the drag chutes!!   

[Baumer]

I wish we could get the forward firing 20mm gun pod of the night fighter.   

[druski85]

Landing chute +1. 

forward 20 mm... -1.

I use full flaps + rudder skidding on landing 234s.  They will nose up on you, but you just have to gently bring em back down again.   Only quick way to burn up the E needed to get landings 100% of the time, in my experience.