Dr1 throttle question

[tmetal]

A question to the plane gurus here.  I remember reading somewhere (don't remember the source so feel free to tell me I'm wrong. In detail please) that the Fokker Dr1 didn't have throttle control, just an on/off (blip) switch and a lever for controlling the fuel/air mix; other than that it was full throttle or engine off.  Can anyone confirm this for me?  Also if this is really the case, why do we have throttle control for the Dr1 in AH? 

Anybody else notice it is tough to find info about the Dr1 that isn't more about the red baron or isn't overly laden with performance/reputation exaggeration?

[Soulyss]

You can take what I know about WW1 planes and probably fill a thimble to about the halfway mark but I seem to recall reading an article about one of the Sopwith planes (think it was the camel) and the spoke of the blip/cutoff mechanism that cut the ignition to some of the cylinders that had a similar effect to reducing throttle on later aircraft.  It wouldn't surprise me that the Dr1's engine worked in a similar fashion.


Happy to have a more knowledgeable person come along and correct me if I'm wrong.

[curry1]

Thank you for reminding me that there is a WWI arena.  I forgot. 

[PR3D4TOR]

The Dr.I had a Oberursel UR.II rotary engine, a copy of the French Le Rhône 9J (which also powered the Sopwith Camel and many other famous WWI planes). The engine had an ignition selector switch that allowed the pilot to select 1/8 power, 1/4 power, half power or full power.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYc-H8Wg-MQ&feature=related

[MAINER]

Most rotary engines off WW1 just had a mixer no carb. They had 2 levers one for amount of air the other for amount of fuel. You could use those as your throttle but it was hard to dial them in during flight. Most pilots set them after take off and left them. When coming into land they would use the "blip switch" to keep the speed down. If you held the switch for to long your cylinders would load up with fuel and either foul your plugs or it would blow up. I have considerable experience working on Gnome Rotary and Le Rhone Rotary engines at a museum i work at.

[FLS]

Just to clarify the previous posts, in Aces High the throttle control functions as the ignition selector on rotary engines.

[VonMessa]

Most rotary engines off WW1 just had a mixer no carb. They had 2 levers one for amount of air the other for amount of fuel. You could use those as your throttle but it was hard to dial them in during flight. Most pilots set them after take off and left them. When coming into land they would use the "blip switch" to keep the speed down. If you held the switch for to long your cylinders would load up with fuel and either foul your plugs or it would blow up. I have considerable experience working on Gnome Rotary and Le Rhone Rotary engines at a museum i work at.

Would this be in Owl's Head? 

[MAINER]

Would this be in Owl's Head?  

Yeah i volunteer in the AC shop

[MK-84]

Just to clarify the previous posts, in Aces High the throttle control functions as the ignition selector on rotary engines.

No it does not, if that was the case it would "jump" to each available selection.  In AH we have a full range of throttle control.

[Noir]

No it does not, if that was the case it would "jump" to each available selection.  In AH we have a full range of throttle control.

not in a WW1 plane.

[FLS]

No it does not, if that was the case it would "jump" to each available selection.  In AH we have a full range of throttle control.

It may not sound like it does but I believe Hitech stated that the thrust is modeled in discrete steps according to how many cylinders are firing.

[Karnak]

It may not sound like it does but I believe Hitech stated that the thrust is modeled in discrete steps according to how many cylinders are firing.

I recall seeing HiTech or Pyro state something like that too.

[B4Buster]

I have considerable experience working on Gnome Rotary and Le Rhone Rotary engines at a museum i work at.

Owl's Head?

[MAINER]

Owl's Head?

Yah I volunteer in the Aircraft shop

[B4Buster]

Yah I volunteer in the Aircraft shop

I go there quite often in the summer time. Didn't realize the replica sopwith and replica Dr.1 used real rotaries.

Also - I want to fly there this summer. Can I park the plane on that little grass area on the left (as you are coming out of the main hanger onto the ramp?) Or do I have to hitch a ride over from the Rockland FBO?