P38 Maneuvering Flaps

[Traveler]

Would like to see the aircraft model improved for the P38’s.  Currently the flap switch allows the operator to deploy or retract flaps in 5 stages.    I do know that the actual aircraft had a single flap handle setting to deploy maneuvering flaps that in our current model is somewhere between 2 and 3 based on percentage of flap extension.  The pilot now has to select between these two settings and it is not possible to set the flaps in a true maneuvering flap setting that would yield the correct amount of flap. Maneuvering flap is not available in the game as the P38's Flaps are presented modeled.

[gyrene81]

i feel your pain but i don't think it's going to happen, at least not any time soon. can't remember exactly but it was either pyro or hitech who stated in another discussion that for planes with multi-position flaps they decided to use 5 increments to simplify things. it's not just the 38s that are affected.

[FLS]

Traveler you are assuming that the flap extension is divided equally in 5 stages.

[Guppy35]

I've always considered that first notch to be the maneuvering flap setting.

[Ack-Ack]

I've always considered that first notch to be the maneuvering flap setting.

It is and its modeled that way in game.

ack-ack

[gyrene81]

It is and its modeled that way in game.

ack-ack

traveler appears to be under the impression that the first notch is too much of an angle for the 38. the f4u used 10 degree increments, didn't the p-51 use a 5 or 7 degree maneuver flap setting?

[Ack-Ack]

traveler appears to be under the impression that the first notch is too much of an angle for the 38. the f4u used 10 degree increments, didn't the p-51 use a 5 or 7 degree maneuver flap setting?

There is a post by HiTech a few years ago that explains his decision to make the incremental settings in AH the way they are, I believe it is also a thread relating to the maneuvering flap settings.  Too lazy, well, actually don't really care enough to look for the thread.

ack-ack

[gyrene81]

ya i remember the discussion, it started out with a wish for more engine management controls and ended up with all kinds of stuff being mentioned including the flaps, damage models, etc...fairly certain it was pyro who made the statement about the 5 increment flaps.

[Traveler]

It is and its modeled that way in game.

ack-ack

I think the first notch is maneuvering flaps for the P51, but I don't think it's the same in the P38.   I remember reading something posted by "badboy"  at least I think that was his name, with charts and graphs .   seeing a P38 at an airshow this past year and talking to the pilot that was ferrying it back.  I asked him to set the first notch of flaps , then to set maneuvering flaps.   The setting for maneuvering produced a much larger wing area.   As I remember from badboy's posts the wing area that resulted from a maneuvering flap setting was somewhere  between the second and third notch setting in AH.  Just asking if the maneuvering flap setting can be modeled into the flight model, use shift-Q to set maneuvering flap.  When activated the flap would extend to the maneuvering setting.

[FLS]

The P-38  AAF Manual 51-127-1 refers to the maneuvering position as flaps half down and limits the speed for half down to 250 mph IAS.

[cactuskooler]

I always believed the equivalent maneuvering flap setting was 3 notches.

[Traveler]

I always believed the equivalent maneuvering flap setting was 3 notches.

If you look at the flap indicator when you have hit the flap key “Q” key,  three times, the indicator is more then 50% down.  If you only hit the "Q" key two times, the flap indicator is less then 50 % down.  You can not set the flaps in the P38 to the Maneuvering position.  50% is not an option.

[FLS]

I always believed the equivalent maneuvering flap setting was 3 notches.

And 3 notches retract at 250 mph IAS. 

[Traveler]

And 3 notches retract at 250 mph IAS. 

So does one notch of flaps

[FLS]

If you look at the flap indicator when you have hit the flap key “Q” key,  three times, the indicator is more then 50% down.  If you only hit the "Q" key two times, the flap indicator is less then 50 % down.  You can not set the flaps in the P38 to the Maneuvering position.  50% is not an option.

There is no actual linkage between the flaps indicator in the AH cockpit and the flap extension percentage in the flight model.