.speed

[Sifudeer]

How do you reset the .speed xxx to normal?

[uptown]

default is .speed 150

[PFactorDave]

default is .speed 150

Is that true of all planes?  I thought that the auto-climb speed varied from plane to plane.

[mtnman]

If you alter the auto-angle speed by using the  .speed xxx  command, it will reset to the default value when you launch a new plane.

FWIW- auto-angle can also be useful in controlling descent speed, rather than being used purely as an auto-climb command.  In particular, if you have some altitude to play with it comes in handy in bombers if you have fighters pestering you.  Set the .speed to 300 or so, and engage it.  You'll go into a slight dive, but won't exceed 300 so your wings wont pop off.  Now, hop in the tail gun, and steer if you need to with the rudder...

With your higher speed, fighters will find it more difficult to maintain safe attack angles, and you'll often find them reduced to attacking from your six...

[Steve]

With your higher speed, fighters will find it more difficult to maintain safe attack angles, and you'll often find them reduced to attacking from your six...

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

[mtnman]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

I know, I know...

Sorry...

It'll hurt me as much as it will you I'm sure...  (Of course, that goes with the territory as a trainer.  I'm basically teaching people how to kill me...)

[Anaxogoras]

Now, hop in the tail gun, and steer if you need to with the rudder...so that your drones warp all over the place.

[hammer]

default is .speed 150

This is incorrect.

The default speed varies from plane to plane. The best way to figure out the default speed for any particular plane is to take off, engage auto-speed, then check the E6B to see what the indicated air speed (IAS) is.

Regards,

Hammer

[Rich46yo]

Let me ask this? Is the default speed set for auto-climb also the very best speed for getting the airplane up to Alt. the fastest? In other words would the default speed of 150 mph also be the most effecient climb speed?

                     Thank you.

[Agent360]

Let me ask this? Is the default speed set for auto-climb also the very best speed for getting the airplane up to Alt. the fastest? In other words would the default speed of 150 mph also be the most effecient climb speed?

                     Thank you.

I believe auto climb sets your plane to the maximum climb rate for the speed it is going. So on take off your climb rate will increase with speed and alt until you reach your maximum climb rate for "x" plane at "x" alt. The climb rate changes as alt changes. It makes your plane follow the climb and speed curves on the charts (right click plane in hanger>> speed or climb chart).

By the way....if you engage auto climb and get to max climb for your alt and speed then turn the engine off your glide descent angle will now be set to the most efficient descent for your speed and alt. As the plane descends it will keep your plane on the optimum glide slope for power off.

Question? - If you engange auto climb then reduce throttle back to almost idle ( or setting that wont allow climb) will the plane then bet set for optimum glide slope for that power setting? It would be much better to reduce throttle and fly optimum glide slope than with the engine totally off because you could cover even more ground distance with low power than no power and make it back faster. This would be great for low fuel situations.

This is helpful when you have a damaged engine and are RTB. I will usually make a heading directly for the base, engage auto climb and get as much alt as possible before the engine quits. When it does quit I leave it engaged and can now get the maximum ground distance out of my alt. Or even better climb to an alt you think you can glide back to base at then turn the engine off and save some power for landing.Your glide slope will also change with alt and speed. I wish there was a chart showing glide slopes for diff planes.

Another little trick is to use it to rope bad guys. For example. A diving high speed attack pass into a furball. You come out with cons on your six. Bring the plane to vert and engage auto climb. Your plane will now go strait up for as long as it can. When it looses speed the plane will fall into max climb. This allows you to transition from vert zoom climb to max climb "perfectly" !!! Then turn or roll as you need for your next gun pass or rope kill. You can also set a button to turn it on and off on your stick. Now you can engage and disengage as you fly.

Agent360

[morfiend]

Another little trick is to use it to rope bad guys. For example. A diving high speed attack pass into a furball. You come out with cons on your six. Bring the plane to vert and engage auto climb. Your plane will now go strait up for as long as it can. When it looses speed the plane will fall into max climb. This allows you to transition from vert zoom climb to max climb "perfectly" !!! Then turn or roll as you need for your next gun pass or rope kill. You can also set a button to turn it on and off on your stick. Now you can engage and disengage as you fly.

Agent360

 Great tip,keep'em coming Agent 

[Ghosth]

Yes agent In my opinion, power off, or idle in autoclimb will get you a very good smooth glide. If power off helps to pull rpm back. For fuel conservation set throttle and rpm for max cruise, and use autoclimb.  It should get you the max possible distance.

If your running home in bombers from 14k, need to maintain high speed, and lose alt. Set autoclimb to 295 full throttle and ease it into autoclimb. It will creak and groan, but you won't snap wings. And those bad guys will have a hard time catching you. Helps if you know your max safe speed for a given plane. In Lancasters I try to keep it just under 300, although I've had them faster than that. You really need to be careful with them.

Also I use it at times in fast planes like the Pony to help me stay fast or to do a fast climb  or rope but maintain my speed. Set autoclimb speed to your desired speed like 250 and let it do the work.

[Scca]

I believe auto climb sets your plane to the maximum climb rate for the speed it is going. So on take off your climb rate will increase with speed and alt until you reach your maximum climb rate for "x" plane at "x" alt. The climb rate changes as alt changes. It makes your plane follow the climb and speed curves on the charts (right click plane in hanger>> speed or climb chart).

By the way....if you engage auto climb and get to max climb for your alt and speed then turn the engine off your glide descent angle will now be set to the most efficient descent for your speed and alt. As the plane descends it will keep your plane on the optimum glide slope for power off.

Question? - If you engange auto climb then reduce throttle back to almost idle ( or setting that wont allow climb) will the plane then bet set for optimum glide slope for that power setting? It would be much better to reduce throttle and fly optimum glide slope than with the engine totally off because you could cover even more ground distance with low power than no power and make it back faster. This would be great for low fuel situations.

This is helpful when you have a damaged engine and are RTB. I will usually make a heading directly for the base, engage auto climb and get as much alt as possible before the engine quits. When it does quit I leave it engaged and can now get the maximum ground distance out of my alt. Or even better climb to an alt you think you can glide back to base at then turn the engine off and save some power for landing.Your glide slope will also change with alt and speed. I wish there was a chart showing glide slopes for diff planes.

Another little trick is to use it to rope bad guys. For example. A diving high speed attack pass into a furball. You come out with cons on your six. Bring the plane to vert and engage auto climb. Your plane will now go strait up for as long as it can. When it looses speed the plane will fall into max climb. This allows you to transition from vert zoom climb to max climb "perfectly" !!! Then turn or roll as you need for your next gun pass or rope kill. You can also set a button to turn it on and off on your stick. Now you can engage and disengage as you fly.

Agent360

Don't listen to him, he don't know nuttten

Just kidding.  BTW, GF's a couple of weeks ago.  It was nice to see someone try to fight and not run when the fight got to their disadvantage.  I know one thing for sure, I couldn't do what you did with that 109.

Now on topic:  How is it you set the best glide speed again?  Do you do alt-x with throttle pulled back?

[Project N25]

This is incorrect.

The default speed varies from plane to plane. The best way to figure out the default speed for any particular plane is to take off, engage auto-speed, then check the E6B to see what the indicated air speed (IAS) is.

Regards,

Hammer

Auto-Speed as in Auto-Climb? (alt + x)
And you actually use the IAS? I've learned not to trust that dial. It's killed me more then once.

[kvuo75]

alt x is speed hold.. the autopilot will command pitch to maintain the speed you've selected. throttle up, climb, throttle down, descend.. at whatever speed you've .speed to.. the default varies by plane. as someone else said, the only way to figure what the default is is to let it stablize in alt-x , and look at the IAS.. (hmm, maybe just found another thing to compile a table for