Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Widewing on July 03, 2011, 08:59:22 AM
-
The other evening, I took up a single B-29. I rarely fly big bombers, and had never flown the B-29 in the MA.
I climbed out to 27,000 feet and headed about three sectors into enemy territory. I bombed enemy fighter hangers at several bases, and once empty, headed for a friendly base. Level at 27k, I had several sectors to let the B-29 inch up to its maximum speed. It reached 360 mph... That was in keeping with what I expected. Then, it pushed up to 370 mph, this seemed a little fast, but the plane was light, with only about 25 minutes of fuel remaining. When I hit 380 mph, I was surprised. That's exceptionally fast.
I spotted a Spitfire off of my right wing, angling in to get behind me (foolish, IMHO). It turned in behind and began a tail chase, about 4.0k behind. However, the range steadily opened up until beyond icon distance. Eventually, the Spitfire pilot gave up.
I don't have a flight test data for the B-29 to cross reference, but 380 mph seems mighty fast to me.....
-
The number I usually see for the B-29 is 356mph, but I haven't really done much in the way of digging for B-29 performance data. 380mph seems more in line with what I'd expect for a B-29 with all the turrets other than the tail turret removed.
-
From an earlier thread...
And that actually seems to be knots instead of miles... :uhoh
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,299570.0.html (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,299570.0.html)
...at least it mentions "kn" as the unit.
That's 400mph right there...
It's true that the "common" figure I've always attached with the B-29 is 357mph@25000ft. At 5000ft higher the air resistance is obviously less and I've read that the turbos were able to maintain sea level hp up to 33000ft (I have to say I found that quite surprising. :headscratch:).
IIRC B-29 still holds the speed record for an aircraft with four piston engines. I know there are faster aircraft with four piston engines but they haven't recorded their speeds for FAI. On top of my head DC-7 is probably the worlds fastest aircraft with four piston engines.
-
On top of my head DC-7 is probably the worlds fastest aircraft with four piston engines.
Stupid me, forgot Republic XF-12 Rainbow.
-
the problem I see with buffs is that you dont go 100% throttle when you are in a formation, tried it IRL so many times, with smaller stuff
-
The b29 is a fast bird, no doubt. The sad thing is in AH the B29 revs up to its max speed inbound to its target and (usually) bombs at max speed and then at max speed it RTB's. Actually, it is a sad thing all the way around in AH that bombers do that. Bombers did NOT bomb at full throttle. 230 mph was common place.
RTB'in was and is a different story.
That is precisely the reason I'll vouch for a maximum bombing speed for level bombers.
-
230 mph was common place.
True or Indicated?
-
The b29 is a fast bird, no doubt. The sad thing is in AH the B29 revs up to its max speed inbound to its target and (usually) bombs at max speed and then at max speed it RTB's. Actually, it is a sad thing all the way around in AH that bombers do that. Bombers did NOT bomb at full throttle. 230 mph was common place.
RTB'in was and is a different story.
That is precisely the reason I'll vouch for a maximum bombing speed for level bombers.
Regardless of what buff I'm using, I always bomb at 2/3 throttle, only way to ensure steady speed
-
Regardless of what buff I'm using, I always bomb at 2/3 throttle, only way to ensure steady speed
Really? :headscratch: Never had a problem with full throttle bombing.
-
calibrating at max speed isnt a great idea because if you have to maneuver and lose some speed those last 5mph take along time to make up, which can mean one of those panic last minute calibrations. I usually calibrate to ~20mph under max, much easier to keep it there :aok
True or Indicated?
for most buffs TAS surely? iirc IAS for 17s went as low as 180.
-
calibrating at max speed isnt a great idea because if you have to maneuver and lose some speed those last 5mph take along time to make up
Don't have that problem either?
-
for most buffs TAS surely? iirc IAS for 17s went as low as 180.
Even the light B-17 I flew for Collings didn't indicate 180...closer to 160-165. A WWII B-17 guy said it "was a 150 mph airplane -- climbed at 150, cruised at 150 and descended at 150".
-
My biggest point in posing that question was to encourage people to (1) know the difference and (2) make sure that they include the specific speed when they make those kinds of statements.
-
Even the light B-17 I flew for Collings didn't indicate 180...closer to 160-165. A WWII B-17 guy said it "was a 150 mph airplane -- climbed at 150, cruised at 150 and descended at 150".
thx, looking back at my previous research on this 150-160 IAS was typical for 17s/18s.
-
thx, looking back at my previous research on this 150-160 IAS was typical for 17s/18s.
And, if we convert 160 mph IAS at 24,000 feet and standard conditions, we get around 230 mph TAS.
-
I paced a b17 in level flight at 28k feet for 5 minutes and it was going 310mph ground speed.
That seems awful fast.
-
Even the light B-17 I flew for Collings didn't indicate 180...closer to 160-165. A WWII B-17 guy said it "was a 150 mph airplane -- climbed at 150, cruised at 150 and descended at 150".
I bailed outta the 909 back in 2000 at the WFFC...awesome plane to fly in and bail out of <S> Thanks for the flight!
-
Screen shot of B-29 and E6B opened...
(http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff480/Tredlite/B-29-Speed.jpg)
-
does the 29 have perma-WEP like the other US heavies?
-
I paced a b17 in level flight at 28k feet for 5 minutes and it was going 310mph ground speed.
That seems awful fast.
Did you film it?
-
does the 29 have perma-WEP like the other US heavies?
:bhead
-
:lol
-
does the 29 have perma-WEP like the other US heavies?
what is this i dont even
-
what is this i dont even
Don't ask...seriously. Ignore or else we all face mortal message board peril...
-
private joke for Stoney aside ;) I noticed the Takeoff Power setting on the E6B in the screenie, how long do you get?
-
standard 5 minute WEP last I recall
-
I don't think 380 is unreasonable. You've got about 1/11th of a fuel load (full load is about 6600), no bombs, maybe light on the guns? 82k vs. 120k, which is the rated weight for 356mph. Take a third off the weight for an extra 25mph sounds about right to me without running the numbers. :cheers:
Screen shot of B-29 and E6B opened...
(http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff480/Tredlite/B-29-Speed.jpg)
-
Weight alone doesn't dictate speed because it's internal.
Adding about 500lbs to the wings of a Fw190A8 with the 30mm guns package reduces speed only 1mph, from memory and comments on the forums dating back many years.
-
Weight alone doesn't dictate speed because it's internal.
ehm... nope
If youre flying a 262 at 220mph, the nose will point up about 5-8 degrees, if youre flying at 500mph+, the nose will point down 1-2 degrees (in level flight of course).
Why?
In straight level flight the sum of al the forces taking effect on the plane is zero, right? (straight movement without any acceleration)
What are the forces attacking the aircraft? There is the gravity, the thrust, the drag and the lift.
Lets see the lift first. Its about the air pressure differences over and under the wings, what also comes from two components. The first one is from the wings aerodinamic profile what can counter the gravity if the plane goes totally straight, its nose isnt pointing up or down. The second component is from the airflows angle of attack.If its zero degrees, the it has minimal effect on the drag, but even if its 4-5 degrees, the drag will increase dramatically causing the plane to slow down, while the lift is increasing.
Summa summarum if you have a light aircraft, you dont need to use this second component, the plane will be able to go fast. If your aircraft is heavy (even if its all internal), the lift will have to counter the gravity force coused by the extra weight, and the only way is to convert the drag to lift, the plane will be slower.
I hope it was understandable.
Btw the b29 is pretty DANG fast. With wep it can do 393 at 30k. Last time i tryed it, i got 4 (!!) 163s without losing a drone. I am a horrible shot and very rarely fly bombers, but they couldnt jump on me as fast as they wanted and were easy kills. Not sure about this bomber being correct.
-
Very true, but the weight of the 30mm 190A8 w/ 100% is almost 10k.... 500 pounds is just 500 pounds........ When we are speaking about 1/3 the overall weight however, that difference in density make it plausible even on the surface. (without doing any thrust to weight math)
Weight alone doesn't dictate speed because it's internal.
Adding about 500lbs to the wings of a Fw190A8 with the 30mm guns package reduces speed only 1mph, from memory and comments on the forums dating back many years.
-
Thing is that a weight change that substantial would have a very conspicuous effect on speed at that altitude. Induced drag at that altitude is a pretty large component of overall drag (relative to sea level). There's 3600 lbs of fuel remaining on that bomber in WW's screen shot, and its only good for 18 mins of full throttle flight. You could imagine the difference between 100% and the current fuel state.
Does anyone know the wing angle of incidence for the B-29?
-
Does anyone know the wing angle of incidence for the B-29?
From NACA references, 4 degrees at the root.