Realistic performance

[Panic]

If you read the title and thought Oh no a noob,
well here recently I have noticed that the P-51D cruises at about 350-375mph, when the actual aircraft cruised around 410-430 mph? Can this be fixed?

[Karnak]

If you read the title and thought Oh no a noob,
well here recently I have noticed that the P-51D cruises at about 350-375mph, when the actual aircraft cruised around 410-430 mph? Can this be fixed?

1) You're mistaking MIL speed for cruise speed.
2) You're mistaking speed on the deck for speed at 25,000ft.

The P-51D had a reported max speed, on WEP, of 437mph at about 25,000ft, which is what it does in AH.

[MrKrabs]

If you read the title and thought Oh no a noob,
well here recently I have noticed that the P-51D cruises at about 350-375mph, when the actual aircraft cruised around 410-430 mph? Can this be fixed?

Still do! 

[gyrene81]

maybe a non-noob would have checked the speed charts to see where peak speed level speed could be reached...noob.

[icepac]

Don't be too hard on the new guys because they came here for the same reasons you did.......which is to fly with the most realism possible.

Welcome new dude.

[Karnak]

Panic,

In the interests of being more helpful, let me point you at some primary source data.  You seem enthusistic about the subject and that is good to see.

For your P-51 interest, look on this page:
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/mustang/mustangtest.html

Read over that page and you should have a better idea of what to expect from the Merlin engined P-51.

The home page for that site is:
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/

That is a great reference for your performance related questions, particularly for American and British aircraft.

[Motherland]

Also, when at altitude, if wondering how fast you're going, make sure you look at the True Air Speed, which is indicated by a little red tick on your speedometer, and not the Indicated Air Speed, which is indicated by the needle.

[earl1937]

If you read the title and thought Oh no a noob,
well here recently I have noticed that the P-51D cruises at about 350-375mph, when the actual aircraft cruised around 410-430 mph? Can this be fixed?

P-51's did not cruise 410 to 430 MPH! With ords and drops both, the real ponie cruised at 285MPH, IAS, or there abouts, with drops only, about 310IAS, with out drops and normal cruise about 330 to 345 or so. Aces High has it programed about right. Again it all depends on what the pilot wants out of his aircraft, distance or speed! Also your altitude will affect what airspeed you want to make. The figures I quoted are at sea level, 59 degrees F., At 25,000 feet, your IAS is going to go down, but your true airspeed will go up, with the less dense air of 25,000 feet.
A lot of people in this game fly around at full throttle all the time and in the real aircraft, wouldn't be long before the engine started having problems.

[Puma44]

A lot of people in this game fly around at full throttle all the time and in the real aircraft, wouldn't be long before the engine started having problems.

What Earl said.  The real world operation of the Mustang engine requires constant monitoring of coolant and oil temperatures.  Let one or both of those get out of limits and trouble will come a knockin'.   Running at continuous full power will certainly invite unwanted problems.  

Earl also makes a good observation about flying in game at full throttle all the time.  Not only does it reduce endurance, but if a flight lead does it, the wingmen tend to get strung out and there's not much of a formation and more of a "same way, same day" group.  A good formation lead will always give the wingmen a power advantage in order for them to maintain formation integrity.

[Saxman]

Running at continuous full power will certainly invite unwanted problems. 

The main unwanted problem it tended to invite was a very angry crew chief beating you over the head with a wrench for making him tear down and rebuild the engine afterwards. Running the engine at max power for an extended period of time over the course of ONE sortie probably wasn't going to blow the engine, so the "run at 100% for X minutes in a row and your engine automatically blows up" feature of other sims isn't much more realistic.

[Puma44]

Running the engine at max power for an extended period of time over the course of ONE sortie probably wasn't going to blow the engine

Maybe so, but it will have unintended consequences.  Most, if not all, reciprocating engines have a stated time limit for full power operation.  Exceeding that limit will have adverse effects on the engine at some point.  It may be during flight or not, but it will happen.  It may happen to the next poor guy to fly the aircraft, possibly during takeoff when the engine is under the most stress.  But, of course, we in cartoon land don't have to be concerned about all of that. 

[earl1937]

Maybe so, but it will have unintended consequences.  Most, if not all, reciprocating engines have a stated time limit for full power operation.  Exceeding that limit will have adverse effects on the engine at some point.  It may be during flight or not, but it will happen.  It may happen to the next poor guy to fly the aircraft, possibly during takeoff when the engine is under the most stress.  But, of course, we in cartoon land don't have to be concerned about all of that. 

Great comment sir and you are correct! I have a lot time in "round, inverted, opposed and in-line internal combustion engines and if you want to live to be an old pilot, take care of your engine first and fore most. BTW, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but not any old, bold pilots!

[Puma44]

, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but not any old, bold pilots!

Thanks Earl! Diligently working on the old pilot status.    

if you want to live to be an old pilot, take care of your engine first and fore most.

You nailed that on the head, Earl!  That is one thing that is lost in AH, proper care and feeding of your power plant(s).  Having consequences of running the engine full bore for extended periods would bring a new twist of realism to the game.   

[Panic]

@ icepac Im not a noob ive played this game for about 3 years.

[SmokinLoon]

@ icepac Im not a noob ive played this game for about 3 years.

Then why are you asking such a question???

Answer these questions for us:
1.  Do you know how to find and interpret the speed charts?
2.  Have you looked at the speed chart for the P51D?
3.  If both #1 and #2 were answered "yes", then at which speed does the P51D move at 410MPH+???