From what I have read, one of the great advantages of the twin-engine fighter/bombers was that their engine thrusts could be manipulated independently, thereby inducing yaw that could be used to the pilot's advantage in various situations. Although some that fly AH use split throttles, I believe that most do not have access to that sort of controller.
What I suggest is that you consider allowing any axis (e.g., the rotary axis on a HOTAS throttle) to define the power ratio between the two engines in a twin-engine plane, such as the P-38. For sake of clarity, let's call that axis the throttle ratio axis. As I have visualized it, the actual throttle deflection would always control one of the two engines. If the the throttle ratio axis is centered (e.g., if the throttle ratio axis is assigned to a throttle rotary axis and it is at its center detent), the ratio of the throttle applied to each of the two engines is 1.0, and both engines receive the actual throttle deflection. However, as the throttle ratio axis is moved away from its center position, the ratio changes from 1.0 linearly to 0.0 (let's call that value x) when the throttle ratio axis is fully deflected in either direction.
Assuming the throttle ratio axis is one of the throttle rotary axes, and further assuming that we rotate the throttle ratio axis from its center position to one of its extremes, the throttle input to the two engines would initially be equal. The throttle input to one of the engines would remain fixed throughout the rotation, but the throttle input to the other engine would linearly decrease from its initial value to zero at full rotary axis deflection. For example, if the actual throttle is wide open and the throttle rotary axis is centered, both engines start out at full military power. As the throttle rotary axis is rotated right, the right engine remains at full military power, but the left engine's power decreases. Specifically, when the throttle rotary axis is rotated x% of the way from its center detent to full right deflection, the throttle input to the right engine is 100% but the throttle input to the left engine is just 100% times x% = x% (e.g., 50% right rotation yields 100% throttle to the right engine and 50% throttle to the left engine).
I know that's a bit complex and I don't have time to think about how to say it more cogently. However, I think that it would work entirely intuitively in practice, and it would give those with single-throttle controls the ability to exploit one of the important advantages of the twin-engine craft.
Thanks for your consideration.
- JNOV
