Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: joeblogs on October 10, 2004, 10:42:25 PM

Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: joeblogs on October 10, 2004, 10:42:25 PM
I was able to fly for the first time in several months and I wonder if there is something different about the modelling of engine settings.

It seems like dialing down the propeller setting also has an effect on MAP. Now this was true in AH1 when moving into and out of full power/WEP, but I don't recall it happening below full power. Now I observe an intermittant effect all the way down to below 1,500 RPM on the F4u-1.

Now there's all sorts of reasons why this would be true in the real world, but that is for another post.

My question is more basic. Did engine management change in some fundamental way in the game? And if so, why?

-Blogs
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Karnak on October 10, 2004, 11:17:52 PM
It was changed so that fuel managment was possible in a realistic way.  Use the EB6 funtion on the clipboard and it will show your fuel consumption, fuel remaining and current flight time left.
Title: How does it work
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 07:01:30 AM
Does anyone exactly how this works? Is the program just walking down an engine calibration chart?

-blogs

Quote
Originally posted by Karnak
It was changed so that fuel managment was possible in a realistic way.  Use the EB6 funtion on the clipboard and it will show your fuel consumption, fuel remaining and current flight time left.
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Schutt on October 11, 2004, 07:11:27 AM
I like the E6B computer build in the clipboard, but i would like to see more info and some hard data as to the effect. Also it would be nice if other effects are explained in the help, its really a burdon for a starter that there are a lot of features experienced players know and starters cant know.
Does the engine cool better with lower throttle/ rpm setting?

Can you cool the engine with a idle throttle dive?

Do you loose more oil with an oil hit at higher rpms?

Also some planes definetly have a diffrent performance curve than in the help file.
There are diffrences between the planes.

Also i think there should be a way to richen or lean the mixture, manually set the radiator flaps and the chance for engine failiure.
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 10:11:09 AM
Engine failure, and other mechanical catastrophes, are already covered by random discos from the internet. ;)
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: stantond on October 11, 2004, 10:43:15 AM
In my experience, an oil loss occurs at a constant rate regardless of hp output.  I interpret this as a hole in the oil tank.  Pulling g's should make this worse, but I don't believe it does.  

 For other questions, such as cooling rates under cruise conditions or when diving I recommend taking your favorite plane(s) up offline for a 15 min flight with a stop watch to answer these.  A stopwatch can also give you data on climb rates, acceleration, and turn rates!  The tables on the web sites are close, but hey... nothing is perfect!  


Notice: I have no vested interest in stop watch companies.


Regards,

Malta
Title: Re: How does it work?
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 11:49:20 AM
Let me repeat the question - does anyone know what the program is actually trying to model? Did Pyro or Hitech ever post something about this?

-Blogs


Quote
Originally posted by joeblogs
Does anyone exactly how this works? Is the program just walking down an engine calibration chart?

-blogs
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 11:58:15 AM
The program is modeling correct fuel consumption at given throttle, RPM settings and altitudes.

Subject to universal modification by fuel multipliers for gameplay purposes.
Title: well it's a start
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 12:05:39 PM
I am happy HT looked at fuel consumption.

But I am really trying to find out if the game is automatically setting RPM and Manifold so the pilot can ignore one or the other, and if so, on what basis that is modeled.

-Blogs

Quote
Originally posted by Karnak
The program is modeling correct fuel consumption at given throttle, RPM settings and altitudes.

Subject to universal modification by fuel multipliers for gameplay purposes.
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 12:20:22 PM
The player has independant control of the manifold preasure and the RPMs.  There are some manifold preasure/RPM combos on some aircraft that are not allowed because the engine didn't work that way.

You can also see your manifold preasure change as your altitude changes and your supercharger's gears kick in and then weaken.  That is also outside of your direct control.
Title: independent control
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 12:42:41 PM
Do you recall if that is how it worked in AH1?

-blogs

Quote
Originally posted by Karnak
The player has independant control of the manifold preasure and the RPMs.  There are some manifold preasure/RPM combos on some aircraft that are not allowed because the engine didn't work that way.

You can also see your manifold preasure change as your altitude changes and your supercharger's gears kick in and then weaken.  That is also outside of your direct control.
Title: Re: independent control
Post by: rshubert on October 11, 2004, 01:28:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by joeblogs
Do you recall if that is how it worked in AH1?

-blogs


No.  Changing prop speed had no effect on fuel consumption in AH1.  Now it does.



shubie
Title: Re: independent control
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 01:45:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by joeblogs
Do you recall if that is how it worked in AH1?

-blogs

The user interface was the same, but changing RPMs had no effect on fuel consumption.

I also don't recall the manifold preasure guage reflecting altitude changes.
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: hitech on October 11, 2004, 02:45:56 PM
Joe blogs: Man Pressure decresses with rpm change, do to the blower /compresser running slower hence less pressure to work with. I.E. Just like the real plane does.

HiTech
Title: Follow up
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 03:12:18 PM
Hitech-

So what you are telling me is that there is no program actively managing the engine, so it remains up to the pilot?

Did you guys enhance the relationship between RPM and the blower effect on manifold pressure? I don't remember such a striking effect below full power in AH1.

Karnak

I recall fooling around a lot with propeller RPM on the FW190 in AH1 and found I could significantly extend time on station. So I'm pretty sure AH1 modelled the effect of RPM on fuel consumption. I am less sure it modelled auto-rich vs auto-lean settings.

-Blogs

Quote
Originally posted by hitech
Joe blogs: Man Pressure decresses with rpm change, do to the blower /compresser running slower hence less pressure to work with. I.E. Just like the real plane does.

HiTech
Title: Engine management in AH2
Post by: Schutt on October 11, 2004, 03:44:01 PM
When you only need full power, wep and idle for the combat, there is no need to fiddle with engine settings as the engine is tuned for max rpms.

When you want cruise performance need to reduce rpms.

Also note that not only throttle, prop setting (rpm) and altitude figures in, airspeed is modeld too.

Some planes get higher mainfold pressure with more speed.

ciao schutt
Title: Re: Follow up
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 03:48:13 PM
Quote
Originally posted by joeblogs
I recall fooling around a lot with propeller RPM on the FW190 in AH1 and found I could significantly extend time on station. So I'm pretty sure AH1 modelled the effect of RPM on fuel consumption. I am less sure it modelled auto-rich vs auto-lean settings.

-Blogs

It may have a bit, but nothing very significant by my tests on the AH1 Mossie.

In AH2 the effect is very significant.

It is easy to play with.  Launch the game and fiddle around with the throttle and RPM controls while the E6B calculater is up.  It shows you detailed data on the effects of the changes.
Title: Re: Follow up
Post by: Karnak on October 11, 2004, 03:48:13 PM
Oops.  Double clicked.
Title: Re: Re: Follow up
Post by: joeblogs on October 11, 2004, 04:43:24 PM
I'll do that.

Unfortunately, my joystick broke before I could get my first full hour of experience of AH2. Waiting for parts...

-Blogs

Quote
Originally posted by Karnak
It may have a bit, but nothing very significant by my tests on the AH1 Mossie.

In AH2 the effect is very significant.

It is easy to play with.  Launch the game and fiddle around with the throttle and RPM controls while the E6B calculater is up.  It shows you detailed data on the effects of the changes.