Author Topic: Throttle on the 163 (Read 360 times)

SFRT - Frenchy · « **on:** December 20, 2002, 05:12:01 PM »

Did the 163 had a throttle (like in AH) and by adjusting it you could burn less fuel and moderate your speed?

Or

It had a big red button who said "on/off"?

SpinDoc1 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2002, 05:47:04 PM »

To the best of my knowledge, in Real Life it had 3 or 4 throttle settings, but most of the time it used full throttle to rocket into the stratosphere. I don't know this for sure, but remember reading it somewhere.

LLv34_Snefens · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2002, 06:42:20 PM »

It could run with lower thrust, but it still used a high proportionally ammount of fuel doing so, so it wasn't really practical. I haven't tested how AH's me163 spends fuel with reduced throttle.

Acording to Eric Brown the pilots instead turned the engine off and made gliding attacks. After 2 minutes they could then turn on the engine again to climb for new attack etc.
Keep in mind that Brown never flew it under power, so it's just second hand info. Anyway, there is nothing that prevents you from relighting the engine as often as you like in AH, and I do that instead of throttling down. It's an excelent glider.

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MiloMorai · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2002, 02:13:37 AM »

Check this site,
http://www.walter-rockets.i12.com/walter/walter.htm

flakbait · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2002, 04:46:07 AM »

The Me-163A had a five-position throttle, while the B (our's) has fully variable engine power. Rudy Opitz talks about flying it, both in tests and in combat, over here...

http://www.flightjournal.com/articles/me163/me163_1.asp

His comments on the Me-163's throttle are in the middle of page 2.

-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High

qts · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2002, 08:11:50 AM »

Yes, it had a throttle, with 5 stages.

From Warplanes of the Luftwaffe, p226

Quote

THe ME-163 was usually started with the help of an external APU. The pilot placed the five-position throttle in the idle position exposing the Start button which was then depressed. This activated the T-stoff steam turbine, which pumped T-stoff to the rocket motor. The starter button was released 4-5 seconds after the turbine started (at 40-50 per cent rpm). The throttle was then moved to the 1st stage position, and then to the 2nd Stage position, instruments being carefully scrutinised at each stage. The 3rd Stage position caused the Komet to jump its tiny chocks and begin its take-off run. The dolly was jettisoned at a height of between 6 and 9 m (20-30 ft), and a steep climb was initiated when the speed reached 643 km/h (400 mph). The climb to 12192 m (40,000ft) was undertaken at an airspeed of 800 km/h (498 mph) and took just under 4 minutes. At 12192m full throttle allowed accelleration from 402 to 965 km/h (250 to 600 mph) within seconds. Tactics were to climb to altitude, then make unpowered diving attacks slashing down through enemy bomber formations, relighting the rocket engine to climb and position for another attack or to evade enemy fighters. Two minutes had to elapse between shutting down and relighting the engine.