Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Tupac on January 13, 2012, 01:35:47 PM

Title: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Tupac on January 13, 2012, 01:35:47 PM
I think that cowl flaps could be a good idea. You could use them to cool off your engine after prolonged WEP use but you would have to take the drag penalty associated with them. They could also be used to slow down fast(er). I know almost all the air cooled engines had them but I did not know that any of the liquid cooled engines had them. I saw this picture that the Flying Heritage collection posted on facebook and it looks like the P40 has cowl flaps.

(http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/380166_10150536169373666_13883518665_8817482_845685401_n.jpg)

Anyways, just throwing that out there. Flamesuit on.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Karnak on January 13, 2012, 01:54:16 PM
Some liquid cooled aircraft had radiator flaps that could be opened or closed manually, though if the engine got hot they'd open automatically.  They are one of the major drag areas of the Spitfire Mk XIV.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: MAINER on January 13, 2012, 02:24:59 PM
+1
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: AWwrgwy on January 13, 2012, 02:33:32 PM
Consider it "automatic" now.

I believe this is one of those "just push another button" engine management things that actually do nothing for game play that Hitech has always said he is against.

Need a quote? I'll search if you like.


wrongway
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: IrishOne on January 13, 2012, 02:37:29 PM
Consider it "automatic" now.

I believe this is one of those "just push another button" engine management things that actually do nothing for game play that Hitech has always said he is against.

Need a quote? I'll search if you like.


wrongway

even if it's was automatic it'd still be cool to be able to see the flaps opening and closing.   
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: 33Vortex on January 13, 2012, 02:37:37 PM
Oh, the new FHC P40...  :aok
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: ImADot on January 13, 2012, 02:46:18 PM
even if it's was automatic it'd still be cool to be able to see the flaps opening and closing.   

You can see that from the cockpit...of your own plane?
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Traveler on January 13, 2012, 02:48:33 PM
HiTech is on record as being against anything based in reality as far as engine management is concerned, such as cowl flaps, Engine oil warm up prior to flight, things that would make aircraft operation more complex.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: 33Vortex on January 13, 2012, 03:23:16 PM
HiTech is on record as being against anything based in reality as far as engine management is concerned, such as cowl flaps, Engine oil warm up prior to flight, things that would make aircraft operation more complex.

Since obviously, the sim is not about aircraft operation, but air combat. There are other sims that are all about aircraft operation.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: B-17 on January 13, 2012, 03:25:43 PM
I still give a +1 to cowl flaps-- I always curse myself for using WEP too early, and then having an engine temp of 52375892157209 degrees. And I can never seem to get it to cool down, either-- even when at a 30 degree glide, with RPMs and manifold set to minimum.

:headscratch:
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: IrishOne on January 13, 2012, 04:19:04 PM
You can see that from the cockpit...of your own plane?

from a p47, zero, 109, yes.   you can see those from inside your own plane.  probably others too.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Wiley on January 13, 2012, 04:24:11 PM
I still give a +1 to cowl flaps-- I always curse myself for using WEP too early, and then having an engine temp of 52375892157209 degrees. And I can never seem to get it to cool down, either-- even when at a 30 degree glide, with RPMs and manifold set to minimum.

:headscratch:

In past threads, it`s been said engine off works to cool you better than rpm/manifold minimum.  I find my temp does cool down in between WEP runups, but I tend to fly longer sorties than many.

Wiley.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: thndregg on January 14, 2012, 09:30:21 AM
Purely on the basis of asthetics, I think it would be fine. As far as actually incorporating it as a manual function in running the engine, I don't think we need to complicate the matter.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: colmbo on January 14, 2012, 05:41:23 PM
Purely on the basis of asthetics, I think it would be fine. As far as actually incorporating it as a manual function in running the engine, I don't think we need to complicate the matter.

Unless you spawn in the hangar and taxi to the runway or taxi back to the hangar after landing you will never be in a situation where the cowl flaps would be fully open.  Even for takeoff where engine cooling airflow is most critical the cowl flaps are adjusted to a "trail" position (opened slightly).  During climb they will normally be in trail and in cruise they will be closed. Not going to be much to see as eye candy.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: JOACH1M on January 14, 2012, 11:18:53 PM
In warbirds the cowl flaps popped out when the gear came down...
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Tupac on January 14, 2012, 11:48:29 PM
In warbirds the cowl flaps popped out when the gear came down...

I always leave the the cowl flaps closed when I'm flying an airplane with them on landing because of "shock cooling" running at a low power setting with cowl flaps open at speed could cool off the engine too fast. Some people say it will crack a cylinder. I dont know if its true or not, but I'd rather be safe than have to buy someone a new cylinder.

I open them during taxi/takeoff/climbout and leave them closed everywhere else.
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: USAF2010 on January 15, 2012, 02:38:34 AM
Would love this, at least in the sense of operation to help cool the engine, but then at the same time, how effective will this truely be and will other aircraft engines cool down faster, etc etc  :headscratch:
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: MK-84 on January 15, 2012, 05:09:05 AM
I dont see why not to add certain amounts of (read easy) engine management.  Not to detract from the fight, and not to dissuade newer players.  But as far as mmo flight sime (which i think this is the only one)  we tend to attract a more hardcore crowd??
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Tilt on January 15, 2012, 06:28:17 AM
Many of the WEP performance figures used in game were only attainable with engine cooling vents trimed appropriately
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: MK-84 on January 15, 2012, 06:41:52 AM
I always leave the the cowl flaps closed when I'm flying an airplane with them on landing because of "shock cooling" running at a low power setting with cowl flaps open at speed could cool off the engine too fast. Some people say it will crack a cylinder. I dont know if its true or not, but I'd rather be safe than have to buy someone a new cylinder.

I open them during taxi/takeoff/climbout and leave them closed everywhere else.

Dont engine tempertures effect that?
Title: Re: Cowl Flaps
Post by: Tupac on January 15, 2012, 10:56:38 AM
Dont engine tempertures effect that?

Affect what?