Originally posted by Gixer
So if you were unable to pull off your tests in a game you wouldn't believe it could be possible in real life?
Being good or what ever you may be able to preform in a flight sim means squat really. No matter how good you may think the flight model may be.
...-Gixer
That's a valid question Gixer, let's see if I can answer it.
Several years ago a fellow was doing an airshow performance in a Spitfire. He flew a half-loop starting about 30 feet above the runway. Remaining inverted, he let his speed recover and then attempted to pull through in a split-S. It was estimated that he was at 400 meters when he began. The Spitfire pancaked, destroying itself and killing the pilot. Other warbird pilots who saw the wreck or film of it agreed that he began the maneuver too low to ever hope of completing it. Typical of many airshow pilots, this Spitfire pilot probably had he head outside the cockpit and simply misjudged his height.
It's important for sim pilots to remember that when looping an aircraft, you have one G resisting your upward momentum, and after you come over the top, one G assisting or adding to your velocity (I won't go into the concept of constantly changing G vectors, but the statement is generally correct as an example).
Finally, I have tested the AH planes offline using available data for several types. With few exceptions, things like corner velocity and roll rates conform reasonably close to actual flight data. I salute the guys at HTC for their accurate flight models. Maybe not absolutely perfect (as if such a thing were even possible), but better than any other sim (boxed or online) that I have flown.
I know several warbird owners, some with time in Spitfires and none would consider trying a Split-S from 1,000 feet. Vlado Lenoch won't try it at less than 2,000 feet in his P-51D, and the Spitfire can't do it in less than half of that height.
I hope this explains my thoughts on the topic.
My regards,
Widewing
