The MOSQUITO fighter

[Bruv119]

i'm with you raster, the mossie needs to be pimped!

we can all agree that it needs to be unleashed from the shackles HTC has put it in.

[Simba]

"at sea level"

That's the rub - the top speed quoted in the history books was achieved at the aircraft's engine(s) optimum altitude, which was rarely, if ever, sea level but rather higher. The example I know best is the Seafire Mk.II, which was essentially 'a Spitfire V with a hook' and employed a Merlin engine with a supercharger capacity far better suited to flying and fighting at 15,000 feet plus. When it was discovered that the early Seafire could barely catch a Ju88 at low level, the supercharger capacity was reduced and the engine optimised for best performance between sea-level and 10,000 feet. With 'clipped' wingtips as well, the top speed increased more than sufficiently to give the next saucy Ju88 to attack the fleet a very nasty fright; described as 'clipped, cropped and clapped' by RAF pilots who knew no better, Fleet Air Arm fighter jockeys just loved the L.IIC Seafire.

Same with the Mossie. The FB.VI is OK for its dedicated task - but it ain't a winner when it's trying to substitute for a NF.30 hunting Bf110G nightfighters at altitude.

      

[Kev367th]

"at sea level"

That's the rub - the top speed quoted in the history books was achieved at the aircraft's engine(s) optimum altitude, which was rarely, if ever, sea level but rather higher. The example I know best is the Seafire Mk.II, which was essentially 'a Spitfire V with a hook' and employed a Merlin engine with a supercharger capacity far better suited to flying and fighting at 15,000 feet plus. When it was discovered that the early Seafire could barely catch a Ju88 at low level, the supercharger capacity was reduced and the engine optimised for best performance between sea-level and 10,000 feet. With 'clipped' wingtips as well, the top speed increased more than sufficiently to give the next saucy Ju88 to attack the fleet a very nasty fright; described as 'clipped, cropped and clapped' by RAF pilots who knew no better, Fleet Air Arm fighter jockeys just loved the L.IIC Seafire.  

Where to start???

The Seafire IIc had it's Merlin 46 replaced with a Merlin 32, it wasn't reduced or optimised, it was an engine change! This happened very early on during Seafire IIc production. Only the first 2-3 months production was with the Merlin 46, after that the 32 was fitted AS STANDARD. All the original batch were then re-fitted with the 32 also.
Clipped, cropped and clapped refers to the late model clipped Spitfire Vc with an +18lbs Merlin 55M, (also fitted to Seafire L.III) and could in no way refer to an L.IIc.
[edit] You are correct in that the reason for the engine change was the IIc sucky low alt performance.

[Kev367th]

i'm with you raster, the mossie needs to be pimped!

we can all agree that it needs to be unleashed from the shackles HTC has put it in.

The initial batches of FB.VI Mossies had flame baffles/dampers fitted at the factory, but they couldn't carry rockets.

By the time rockets were an option all FB.VI Mossies were delivered sans flame dampers, and they were only fitted as required.
We don't have night = no need for dampers, get rid of them.

[Angus]

Completely!
As I would love a night moving over the world of AH, it will be a while before that, and in the meantime, day aircraft and day equipment should be the norm.
That said, the Mossie could do with a facelift, and another mark or two

[mechanic]

[snip] there isn't a decent Mossie to be flown anywhere online

That's crazy talk, the AH mosquito is a murderer's plane and more than a match for the majority of the planeset here. That is of course....if you know how to fly it and don't rely on speed to survive. If you get a faster mosquito you wont be any better at flying it, you will just be able to escape more often when things don't go to plan. Try some ACMs in the current AH mossie, fly it for more than a few weeks. I have flown it almost exclusively for over two years in AH and i can tell you it is a very decent mossie.

[Krusty]

I'm not even a shadow of the mossie pilot Bat is (I take it up only once in a while) and I have repeatedly landed 8-kill sorties, coming back to the field bruised and battered but alive. As it is in AH, it's no spitfire, but it's a lethal killer, for sure!

[Bruv119]

That's crazy talk, the AH mosquito is a murderer's plane and more than a match for the majority of the planeset here. That is of course....if you know how to fly it and don't rely on speed to survive. If you get a faster mosquito you wont be any better at flying it, you will just be able to escape more often when things don't go to plan. Try some ACMs in the current AH mossie, fly it for more than a few weeks. I have flown it almost exclusively for over two years in AH and i can tell you it is a very decent mossie.

come on bat you would make a bicycle with cardboard cut out strap on wings fly better than it should.  Examining the quality of the pilot is no reason to deny the wish of an accurately modeled daytime, un-flame dampered beast mossie!

Unleash the speed 

[Krusty]

What was the undamped mossie "cruise speed"? Not the full-frickin-throttle AH milpower, but surely fairly fast.

I ask because I'm curious about historic mission speeds vs AH FFT usage.

[Karnak]

What was the undamped mossie "cruise speed"? Not the full-frickin-throttle AH milpower, but surely fairly fast.

I ask because I'm curious about historic mission speeds vs AH FFT usage.

That would depend on the range of the mission.  I'd have to do some specific research on the subject though.  The RAF's tests seem more focused on top speeds.  The following line is from the section of the tests I quoted earlier:

"4.  When cruising fairly fast (2300 r.p.m. + 4 boost) near the ground, the Mosquito was "jumped" by a Spitfire XII..."

It seems that a fast cruise might be +7 or +8lbs boost.  The speed should be 10-15mph faster than the Mossie in AH does on the same settings.  If I can find my pilot's handbook I'll post more detailed information, but I am not sure it will supply expected speeds, just the boost and rpm settings that should be used.

[bozon]

What was the undamped mossie "cruise speed"? Not the full-frickin-throttle AH milpower, but surely fairly fast.

I ask because I'm curious about historic mission speeds vs AH FFT usage.

Intruder/ranger mission were navigating at 280 mph (iirc) for most of the way. These are the low alt, long distance runs. High alt mosquito bombers were faster and recons even faster. On many missions the total average speed (total travel distance divided by time from takeoff to landing) was over 300 mph for such missions.

Sharp & Bowyer give a few record breaking missions for these stats. I'll see if I can find it.

[Angus]

It was indeed a fast cruiser, which gave the LW a hard time jumping it. After all, the twin engined fighter-bomber was cruising faster than the one engined fighters. If the contact was anything else than a "jump", the mossie would have a good chance simply running away.
There was an account somewhere on the boards regarding Mossies outrunning 190's over the north sea. Karnak?

[Karnak]

Ok, here is what the pilot's handbook says:

44. Cruising

(i) For any required airspeed, the maximum weak mixture boost (+7 lb./sq. in.) together with the lowest practicable r.p.m. provide the most economical conditions.

|(ii) When cruising at low r.p.m. the engines should be cleared every 30 mins. at +12 lb./sq. in. boost and 2,850 r.p.m. for 30 secs.

(iii)At any height the speed for maximum range is 170 knots at a weight of 17,000 lb. but below 6,000 ft. (my guess, the first digit is obscured, but looks most like a six to me) this speed can only be obtained and an uneconomical boost setting, even when using minimum r.p.m.  Speed should therefore be increased to approximately 200 knots.
(iv) Fly with the supercharger gear change switch in the MOD position, unless the recommended airspeed cannot be obtained without exceeding 2,650 r.p.m., when high gear should be engaged by switching to AUTO.

45.  Flight planning charts
The recommended cruising speeds ANMPG and GPH curves for a mean weight of 17,000 lb. and 20,000 lb. at sea level. 10,000 ft. and 20,000 ft. in low gear and at 25,000 ft. in high gear are on pages 30 to 33.


The charts that are on the following pages show fuel consumption at various RPM settings and list cruise speeds between 170 and 240 knots at sea level, 200 and 290 knots at 10,000ft, 210 and 300 knots at 20,000ft and 220 and 305 knots at 25,000ft.


On page 36 it lists the following limitations for the Merlin 25:

MAX. TAKE-OFF: low gear; 3000rpm; +18lbs boost
INTERMEDIATE 1 HR LIMIT: low/high gear; 2850rpm; +9lbs boost; 125 degree coolant; 90 degree oil
MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS: low/high gear; 2650rpm; +7lbs boost; 105(115) degree coolant; 90 degree oil
OPERATIONAL NECESSITY 5 MINS. LIMIT: low/high gear; 3,000rpm; +18lbs boost; 135 degree coolant; 105 degree oil


That is about all that I see in the pilots handbook that is relevant to cruising.

[Karnak]

There was an account somewhere on the boards regarding Mossies outrunning 190's over the north sea. Karnak?

I have read several accounts of FB.Mk VI's simply out running German fighters that tried to intercept them at low altitude, both Bf109s and Fw190s.

[FTJR]

That's crazy talk, the AH mosquito is a murderer's plane and more than a match for the majority of the planeset here. That is of course....if you know how to fly it and don't rely on speed to survive. If you get a faster mosquito you wont be any better at flying it, you will just be able to escape more often when things don't go to plan. Try some ACMs in the current AH mossie, fly it for more than a few weeks. I have flown it almost exclusively for over two years in AH and i can tell you it is a very decent mossie.

Bat, you're talking to this guy! Snippet courtesy of AKAK.

I for one am interested Midway and if I am impressed with your expertise I will probably tell you. However, I doubt you can teach me anything.

If I may suggest you set this up correctly. You could do the whole thing on a Sunday afternoon. Post it, have the folks sign up and register for the specific date and time. Get their emails, send out printed material outlining the manuevers, make up a short program and demonstration, expect each pilot to show you the manuevers correctly preformed, then make sure those who have registered are given a written exam. If these pilots pass your written and online test then you email each of them a certificate of successfully completed training. Or a certificate of failure if thats the kind of pilot they are. However, as I said, I doubt you are the one who would be able to competently teach how to pilot the P38 effectively. Your training and your certificate are only as good as you are. In my opinion, your gunnery is excellent, your pilotage only average. If you have the balls to prove yourself competent to train, then ok, I will humbly sign up as your student to pass or fail by your measure.

RASTER