Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: ridley1 on February 13, 2006, 02:46:29 PM

Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: ridley1 on February 13, 2006, 02:46:29 PM
I use a logitech extreme 3d pro (yeah...I know...thought it wasw a good deal at the time....but I digress)

I hit the throttle on the stick....Man press falls, but rpm stays the same....
hit the +- on the keyboard.....both rpm and man pressure change....

what is the secret to the modelling here?
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: USHilDvl on February 13, 2006, 03:15:43 PM
The "+" and "-" keys control prop pitch, which translates to changes in RPM (the RPM gauge is a measure of prop RPM, not engine).

When you change the prop RPM, there is an effect on engine manifold pressure as the workload decreases/increases.  Increased pitch = increase workload and vice-versa.  As you reduce prop RPM, the max engine manifold pressure will drop with it, so you see 'both' settings move.

To set a specific engine config (like Max Cruise) first set the RPM, then make final adjustments to your manifold pressure (throttle).

Hope this clears it up a bit!  
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Golfer on February 13, 2006, 03:26:45 PM
Pfffft just leave them both full forward.  Who really knows what they're for anyways?
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Mustaine on February 13, 2006, 03:33:35 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Golfer
Pfffft just leave them both full forward.  Who really knows what they're for anyways?
good answer :aok
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: USHilDvl on February 13, 2006, 03:36:56 PM
...and probably the more correct one!!

:lol
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Furball on February 13, 2006, 03:50:41 PM
i like the p button.

p is for pwn.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: wetrat on February 13, 2006, 04:41:56 PM
p is for peni....
wait, nevermind.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: eilif on February 13, 2006, 05:53:24 PM
with AH's "engine management for idiots" you dont really need to mess with rpm unless your trying to conserving fuel.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Widewing on February 13, 2006, 07:22:17 PM
Quote
Originally posted by eilif
with AH's "engine management for idiots" you dont really need to mess with rpm unless your trying to conserving fuel.


Besides, a common USAAF maxim was "everything forward until the sky is empty". ;)

My regards,

Widewing
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Brooke on February 14, 2006, 02:37:37 AM
Throttle and manifold setting is occasionally useful in scenarios, squad ops, snapshots, planned missions, etc.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Hades55 on February 15, 2006, 02:37:46 AM
Some here they dont know what they are talking about, or they create confusion for their own reasons....  

Anyway, + and - controls the Rotation Per Minute (RPM) of your engine
and you can hear it. Very usufull when you try to rtb without fuel.

(many times i return all way back with 1500-1800 RPM burning just air :).

Throttle controls the pits of the wings of your propeller so the manifold pressure ( the amount of air who your propeller send back) change but not the RPM (who stay the same if you are not change them with + -).
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Golfer on February 15, 2006, 03:03:07 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Hades55
Some here they dont know what they are talking about, or they create confusion for their own reasons....
 


Quote
Throttle controls the pits (Pitch) of the wings of your propeller so the manifold pressure ( the amount of air who your propeller send back) change but not the RPM (who stay the same if you are not change them with + -).


I think that created more confusion than anything.  While technically correct...that's a Microsoft Tech Support answer if there ever was one.

Regardless of your throttle setting, using the propeller control (NUM+/NUM-) the propeller will spin at a constant rate in terms of RPM.  Hence the term "Constant Speed"

The throttle setting is a measure of how much "oomph," which is a very technical aeronautical term, the motor is giving to the propeller.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 15, 2006, 05:13:26 AM
as Golfer has just stated regarding RPM's control keys.........

the keyboard control keys for throttle are - & = . Now you can use SHIFT - for instant off/no throttle or use SHIFT = for instant 100% throttle/wide open .

the control keys for the RPM's are on the numbers keybad which Golfer stated in his last reply, which are - for lowering RPM & + for raising RPM........

so in that info you can find out why you was getting confused.......

check out the help section/getting started and look for the key commands link for more detail......

Good Luck!
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: USHilDvl on February 15, 2006, 10:57:44 AM
Confusion is right, Hades...

Its revolutions per minute, not rotations.

The gauge reads propellor RPM, not the engine RPM.

Manifold pressure is NOT the amount of air the prop pushes back.

Manifold pressure IS the pressure of the gasses currently passing through the intake manifold.

As Golfer pointed out, a constant speed prop maintains rpm regardless of throttle/manifold setting via automatic pitch adjustment.  Changing the RPM setting alters the actual constant rpm to be maintained.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Hades55 on February 15, 2006, 11:35:25 AM
I was speaking about the *numbers keypad + and -* not the keyboards ones who needs shift.

To make it simpler the + and - at numbers keypad is like the gas pedal of
your car.  You control the rotation of your engine. More RPMs more gas needed but also more HP (horse power).

Now, Throttle controls the pitch, means the angle of the wings of the propeller who they cat the air, as the prop turns.
More angle more air goes back more power pull your plane frond.

You can have Full RPMs at your engine but when your pitch is 0 no air goes
back so your plane dont move.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: eilif on February 15, 2006, 11:50:22 AM
not all early WWII planes had constant speed props, it would spice things up if they were taken off some of the early planes we got.  And i dont think they are working correctly on all our planes, the p40 for example, you couldnt just fire wall it on take off, the prop would stall out, same with the p51 and many other planes. I think the constant speed propelors we got in ah are actualy an ai as well that automaticaly adjusts the prop pitch manualy to keep things working right, or its just not coded acurately.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Golfer on February 15, 2006, 11:53:26 AM
It's actually more perfect than a real airplane ever would be because it's not bound by any mechanical laws.  It's instant...can't ask for more than that.  We also don't get fun failures for the sake of ease of use.

If this game was too "real" we might as well get the FAA in here to certify the users...sometimes I think that's what some people want.

For instance...you don't have to deal with a governor that's a POS.  A hub which could use replacement or a nitrogen recharge.  Worn out springs don't exist.  The annoying overspeed/underspeed noises that is constant when one of said airplanes is the one you're flying.  In P-38's and other multiengine airplanes you don't need to sync props in order to maintain your sanity.

It's not all bad.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Vad on February 15, 2006, 12:02:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hades55
I was speaking about the *numbers keypad + and -* not the keyboards ones who needs shift.

To make it simpler the + and - at numbers keypad is like the gas pedal of
your car.  You control the rotation of your engine. More RPMs more gas needed but also more HP (horse power).

Now, Throttle controls the pitch, means the angle of the wings of the propeller who they cat the air, as the prop turns.
More angle more air goes back more power pull your plane frond.

You can have Full RPMs at your engine but when your pitch is 0 no air goes
back so your plane dont move.


I would say that everything is exactly opposite.

Throttle is your gas pedal. It controls the amount of fuel-air mix going to the engine.
"+" and "-" is pitch control, controls RPM.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: USHilDvl on February 15, 2006, 12:09:30 PM
Throttle controls manifold pressure, which is an engine function.  Throttle does not control prop pitch.

RPM change (numpad +/-) alters prop speed.

Not the other way around.  You are crossing your terms up all over the place.

Quote
You can have Full RPMs at your engine but when your pitch is 0 no air goes


Essentially right, but still not quite...You are right that when the engine is at full throttle (full manifold pressure), but zero prop RPM (which equals zero prop pitch), you would have minimum airflow induced by the prop.  But, we have no engine RPM guage...only prop RPM, so the statement is still confusing.  We have no engine RPM control, either...we adjust for manifold pressure, and engine RPM is a function of that pressure.

The throttle controls the engine.  The RPM adjustment controls the prop pitch.  It's just not the other way around.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Golfer on February 15, 2006, 12:09:56 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Hades55
Now, Throttle controls the pitch, means the angle of the wings of the propeller who they cat the air, as the prop turns.
More angle more air goes back more power pull your plane frond.

You can have Full RPMs at your engine but when your pitch is 0 no air goes
back so your plane dont move.


The throttle still doesn't control the pitch.  I get what you're saying but the throttle lever is connected via virtual cable to the virtual throttle in the virtual engine.  At no point does moving the throttle directly change the propeller.  The throttle only only only only only is there for engine power which you'll find indicated in manifold pressure.  The propeller system is completely independent of the throttle.

Also...it's more of an airflow thing rather than a power thing.  If you're in a climb and level out, the prop is going to want to go to an overspeed condition which automatically goes away by the governor (depending on airplane type...we'll say single engine) pumping more oil into the hub to let the prop take a bigger bite of air.  If you go from level flight into a descent without touching the throttle...same deal an overspeed condition because now you're moving faster and there is more air passing by...the prop needs to take bigger bites of air in order to reduce the RPM.  This happens automatically and more oil is pumped into the hub by the governor.

When you level off from your descent now our propeller is in an underspeed condition.  Oil is allowed out of the hub which will increase the rpm (decrease pitch) which takes a smaller bite of air.




While it is true that when you move the throttle, one of the byproducts is a change in blade pitch it is only because the propeller system wants to maintain a constant RPM setting...not because your throttle said to.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: Golfer on February 15, 2006, 12:18:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by USHilDvl
but zero prop RPM (which equals zero prop pitch), you would have minimum airflow induced by the prop.  But, we have no engine RPM guage...only prop RPM, so the statement is still confusing.  We have no engine RPM control, either...we adjust for manifold pressure, and engine RPM is a function of that pressure.

The throttle controls the engine.  The RPM adjustment controls the prop pitch.  It's just not the other way around.


With zero prop RPM you've got zero airflow.

With the blades at Zero pitch they can spin all they want and they're not going to make the airplane move.

Engine rpm is not a function of manifold pressure.  The Prop RPM and Engine RPM (for our purposes) are one and the same.  The prop is bolted to a plate which is part of a crankshaft which is the keystone piece of the engine.  You don't get zero prop rpm without zero engine rpm.  You can get zero pitch (what Hades said) and still have the engine turning.

It also doesn't matter where you get your tach indication from.  In some airplanes that measurment comes from the engine others the prop.  In the FW-149D for instance, I had a hard time wrapping my head around how the heck a big 3 bladed prop could spin as fast as it did.  On departure we'd pull back the prop and still be over 3200rpm.  Not until I learned a little more about the GO-480 (Gear Driven, Horizontally Opposed 480 cu.in.) that the tach indication comes from the motor and not the prop which is probably spinning something more sane on the order of 2300rpm.
Title: throttle:Manifold vs Engine rpm
Post by: USHilDvl on February 15, 2006, 03:09:28 PM
You're right about my zero RPM = zero pitch statement...my mistake.  I meant to say what you did...that zero pitch equals minimum prop thrust.  Definitely do not get zero prop RPM without zero engine RPM.

I would probably debate to some degree that manifold pressure is not related to engine RPM.  One might argue that, in a given engine, one cannot increase engine RPM without sufficient manifold pressure...therefore they are related.  Taken to the extreme, no manifold pressure assuredly equals no engine RPM.  I'd have to learn more to convince me that they are not relational functions of one another.

In truth, the real message I was trying to convey is that the throttle does not control prop pitch, and that in AH the RPM guage (according to the help files) is specifically a prop RPM indicator, not engine.  Your point re: the FW is a good example of RL, but I am operating under the assumption that in the game, the guage is reading the prop.  Doesn't matter, tho...I  think we agree on the key point..the virtual throttle is not virtually linked to the virtual prop...only to the virtual engine.  I think your last explanation probably made the point more clearly than I did.