Does the direction that the prop rotates have an effect on roll rate?

[Fianna]

Does it?

And if a plane has multiple engines and all rotate in the same direction, will that multiply the effect?


Thanks.

[Benny Moore]

I don't know if it does in the game, but it should not only affect roll but also turn.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Fianna
Does it?

And if a plane has multiple engines and all rotate in the same direction, will that multiply the effect?


Thanks.

fly a P-38 and you won't have to worry about such things.


ack-ack

[Schatzi]

Originally posted by Fianna
Does it?

And if a plane has multiple engines and all rotate in the same direction, will that multiply the effect?


Thanks.

Yes.

And yes.



Try a Tempest, roll left at full WEP. Then do the same at throttle iddle .

[Benny Moore]

How about turning circles?

[2bighorn]

Originally posted by Benny Moore
I don't know if it does in the game, but it should not only affect roll but also turn.

in AH it affects both

[Fianna]

Originally posted by Ack-Ack
fly a P-38 and you won't have to worry about such things.


ack-ack

That's what I fly 90%, but most of the time I end up fighting planes with only one engine. As strange as it may seem, I'd like to know about planes other than the ones I fly.

[Fianna]

So will your plane roll and turn better in the same direction that the prop rotates? Or does it roll/turn better in the opposite direction that the prop rotates?

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Fianna
So will your plane roll and turn better in the same direction that the prop rotates? Or does it roll/turn better in the opposite direction that the prop rotates?

The plane will roll and turn better in the direction the engine is spinning.  So if the torque is to the right then the plane will naturally turn and roll better in that direction since the torque is naturally pushing the plane in that direction.  However, it will not roll or turn as well in the opposite direction of the torque since the plane has to fight the engine to turn or roll in the opposite direction of the torque.  Speed is also a factor.  Some planes the torque is more pronounced at high speeds and in some planes torque is vicious at low speeds, hampering the planes maneuverability.


ack-ack

[Widewing]

To get a first-hand example of how torque is modeled and how it effects both roll and turn, take a few test hops in the Bf 109F-4 and F4U-1A.

Slow down, deploy full flaps, run the throttle up to full power and pull the nose just above the horizon.

When your speed drops to below 100 mph, try rolling to the right. Both aircraft will refuse to roll. So, push the nose just below the horizon and back off the power. Now, they will roll. Once in a right-hand bank, begin turning, gradually adding more elevator. Observe the handling. After a full circle to the right, reverse your bank and fly a similar turn to the left.

This will provide a clear understanding of how torque influences roll and turn. Learning how torque impacts performance in your favorite fighter is important to mastering that type. Learning how it effects every fighter is a vital key to being able to jump from type to type with equal skill and ability and provides a knowledge base for combat against each type.

My regards,

Widewing

[Fianna]

Thanks for the replies

[Mace2004]

Actually, just to clear things up, torque acts opposite in direction to your prop so a prop that turns clockwise (when viewed from the cockpit) will roll much easier to the left.  Think of torque this way, if you could hold onto the prop which direction would the plane rotate?  Almost all of our props rotate clockwise, the exceptions (all that I can think of) are the Tempest, Typhoon, il2 and both Yaks.  These airplanes will like to roll right.  I think all of our twin fighters are counter-rotating so the torque is cancelled out.

As Widewing mentioned, there are some planes that will just refuse to roll against the torque at slow speeds.  These are the very high horsepower, large prop planes but even if the airplane will roll it'll roll faster if you cut back on the power.  Also, I'll add that rudder is an excellent tool and using it needs to become second nature to improve your roll.

Mace

[Murdr]

Only the P-38 has counter rotating engines and props, giving it zero net torque.

On paper, you should be able to achieve the same turn radi going either direction.  In practice though the conditions to stall the wing on the outside of the turn are different.  As noted, you'll find more stability when turning with your torque roll.  Hence "turn better" means that its much easier for the pilot to control and sustain the turn going with the torque.

Learning how it effects every fighter is a vital key to being able to jump from type to type with equal skill and ability and provides a knowledge base for combat against each type.

Which was the reason I made this post as an example of using the other guys torque aginst them last month.