Flaps in a fight

[JunkyII]

Thanks for the bump Strong10, reminded me of some tests I did while dueling ardy123 in BF109G14s.

At first I started dueling just normally the way I would fly. After a couple rounds I decided to not deploy flaps at all. I saved more E in the fights but he was getting around on me and missed several key shots, after he started to get the upper hand in a rolling scissors I decided I couldnt let Ardy's punkarse win I started using flaps and a bit of cross controlling(something I think is more important then others may think) and brought it around for a kill shot.

So as of now, Flaps must be used in a G14 vs G14 fight to gain the upper hand

[SlapShot]

Flaps essentially increase the wing size creating more lift.

Don't know what planes you are flying, but the planes that I fly the most (FM2 / F6F) ... the flaps do not increase the wing size ... they only change the shape of the wing which changes/increases the lift vector.

I use flaps whenever I deem them necessary ... going up or down ... it all depends upon the situation at hand.

I will use flaps in a spiral climb if needed.

At the top of a zoom, instead of dropping back down because the opponent isn't quite "roped" I will pop flaps, level out and float there a bit watching to see if he does stall out and then drop on him pulling flaps back in.

I will pop flaps out nose down (like Grizz) to pull the nose around or into my opponent quicker and once I like where I am at ... I pull them back in.

Once you get use to a plane and how it performs with flaps ... using them becomes second nature and you really don't even think about it anymore ... you just do it.

[strong10]

Don't know what planes you are flying, but the planes that I fly the most (FM2 / F6F) ... the flaps do not increase the wing size ... they only change the shape of the wing which changes/increases the lift vector.


Strong said "Flaps essentially increase the wing size creating more lift."

Thanks for being so technical, I was just trying to keep it simple.  Well you increase the size of the camber so in a way it makes the lifting part of the wing bigger.   

I fly cartoon planes, you knew that.. 

[SlapShot]

Thanks for being so technical, I was just trying to keep it simple.  Well you increase the size of the camber so in a way it makes the lifting part of the wing bigger.   

I fly cartoon planes, you knew that.. 

Only intent was to be helpful ... again ... you are not increasing the size of anything ... you are changing the angle.

[2bighorn]

Only intent was to be helpful ... again ... you are not increasing the size of anything ... you are changing the angle.

Technically, as he said, it increases the camber (we are talking WWII planes), so yeah, it does. Increased camber basically changes the wing profile (in layman terms, thickness and/or surface) which in change increases the lift and/or drag.

Also true that flaps can and do change AoA (but not always).

[FLS]

Flaps increase the angle of incidence and the coefficient of lift. Flaps have the effect of increasing AoA (by increasing the angle of incidence) while lowering the stall speed with the increased coefficient of lift.

Fowler flaps like those on the P-38 increase the wing area and lower the wing loading in addition to changing the angle of incidence and increasing the coefficient of lift.

[DOUG]

wow, bozon, ur either trollin, or so far off the mark, its hard to believe.    elfy

[bozon]

wow, bozon, ur either trollin, or so far off the mark, its hard to believe.    elfy

No, I am serious. Flaps help, but their net effect on the outcome of the fight is WAY overrated. In particular things like pulling them in and out during scissors.

[Ack-Ack]

No, I am serious. Flaps help, but their net effect on the outcome of the fight is WAY overrated. In particular things like pulling them in and out during scissors.

Depends on the plane that you're flying and the situation you're in.  The blanket statement you make might be true for the plane you choose to fly but it's not true of every plane in the plane set.


ack-ack

[SlapShot]

No, I am serious. Flaps help, but their net effect on the outcome of the fight is WAY overrated. In particular things like pulling them in and out during scissors.

Not if you fly the FM2 or F6F and want to tangle with Spits and Zekes.

[Soulyss]

No, I am serious. Flaps help, but their net effect on the outcome of the fight is WAY overrated. In particular things like pulling them in and out during scissors.

Gotta disagree, in some planes using flaps effectively can make or break the fight.  This is especially the case in a duel situation where both pilots are in the same aircraft. 

Flying the 38 if I get a flap damaged I certainly feel like I'm a pretty big disadvantage whether it's stuck down or up.

[JunkyII]

What I consider my "main" ride, the KI84....the flaps are what give you the advantage in the fight against other high end birds like LAs, Spits, and N1ks

[Ardy123]

fly 109 g14 without flaps at slow speed? thats asking to loose a fight. Most planes, esp the faster ones, require flaps for halfway decent slow speed handling.