Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: smoe on December 30, 2011, 09:12:31 AM

Title: Bullet Velocity
Post by: smoe on December 30, 2011, 09:12:31 AM
When calculating a bullets velocity is the speed of the aircraft taken into account?

i.e. bullet velocity = 340 ft/s (aircraft speed @ 500mph) + 2900 ft/s (bullet muzzle velocity) = 3240 ft/s

Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: save on December 30, 2011, 09:33:13 AM
Also , is the air density at different altitudes taking account for for slowing down the bullet ?
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: FLS on December 30, 2011, 09:36:52 AM
I believe Hitech has said that both platform velocity and air density are part of the ballistic model.
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: Karnak on December 30, 2011, 09:44:21 AM
Yes, it is.  HiTech has explicitly stated so.  This is one of the reasons that fighters attacking bombers from dead six feel like the bomber's guns are more powerful.  The rounds fired by the attacking P-51 are moving faster and thus have higher parasitic drag, slowing them down faster and the bomber is running away from them.  The rounds fired by the B-17's tail gun are moving slower thus having less parasitic drag thus keeping their energy better and the P--51 is running into them.
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: Butcher on December 30, 2011, 09:47:56 AM
Yes, it is.  HiTech has explicitly stated so.  This is one of the reasons that fighters attacking bombers from dead six feel like the bomber's guns are more powerful.  The rounds fired by the attacking P-51 are moving faster and thus have higher parasitic drag, slowing them down faster and the bomber is running away from them.  The rounds fired by the B-17's tail gun are moving slower thus having less parasitic drag thus keeping their energy better and the P--51 is running into them.

Darn those 51's who jump out in front of those darn bullets!
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: W7LPNRICK on December 30, 2011, 06:22:43 PM
Yes, it is.  HiTech has explicitly stated so.  This is one of the reasons that fighters attacking bombers from dead six feel like the bomber's guns are more powerful.  The rounds fired by the attacking P-51 are moving faster and thus have higher parasitic drag, slowing them down faster and the bomber is running away from them.  The rounds fired by the B-17's tail gun are moving slower thus having less parasitic drag thus keeping their energy better and the P--51 is running into them.

But you also subtract the speed of the bomber from the bullet speed, & then add your speed to the speed of the bullet basically negating your velocity toward the bullet, so lack of air density firing rearward vs forward is the only real change.  :noid   :D
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: Karnak on December 30, 2011, 06:27:31 PM
But you also subtract the speed of the bomber from the bullet speed, & then add your speed to the speed of the bullet basically negating your velocity toward the bullet, so lack of air density firing rearward vs forward is the only real change.  :noid   :D
Apparent effective range changes as well.
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: SmokinLoon on January 02, 2012, 02:28:17 PM
Has anyone noticed that the .50 caliber MG's from the ground vehicles do more damage than their aircraft counterparts?  Well... they do and it is documented.  seeing as how the cartridge and projectile are the same, it is all velocity rated.   :aok

Aircraft M2 .50 cal = .117 lb per projectile

Ground vehicle m2 .50 cal = .125 lb per projectile.
Title: Re: Bullet Velocity
Post by: hitech on January 03, 2012, 09:57:21 AM
They have different length barrels and hence different muzzle velocities.

HiTech