Just tested a K4 flown manually against auto take off. The auto pilot aircraft had about 740 yards lead when I rolled and by 28,000 ft I had closed to 300 yards. Same fuel and load.
That's close enough to say no significant performance difference but a slight edge to manual flight.
I just repeated my tests. A climb to 2000' is more realistic when having to scramble to meet incoming fighters. Here are the precise conditions used and results I got:
109K4
50% fuel load, no drop tank
standard 30mm/12mm armament load
Offline practice area, unmodified
launch direction NE
throttle initially closed
start timer when throttle goes full open
turn WEP on asap
Auto Takeoff (3 runs), time to 2000'
48 sec
46 sec
47 sec
Manual Takeoff (3 runs), time to 2000'
57 sec
58 sec
58 sec
elevator trim set to full down, adjustment made while rolling (auto takeoff does this instantly and automatically)
liftoff at 125 IAS (try to match what auto takeoff does)
climb at 135-140 IAS (try to match what auto takeoff does)
The best I could do manually was 9 seconds slower than auto, about 20% longer in time, to 2000'. I call that huge.
Btw, you noticed about a 740 yard lead on rollout using auto takeoff, right? I see about the same.
Knowing the above I will only use auto takeoff, especially when needing to scramble a fighter in a hurry.
You need more practice and you should not being trying to copy exactly how auto-takeoff works/does it
The 740 yards lead was because I was unable to start at the same time.
Climbing at 140 IAS is too slow. You'll do better at 168.
Agreed
Pro tip. Combat trim is great for when you're just flying from here to there. Keeping it enabled while maneuvering and changing speeds puts you at a marked disadvantage vs someone using manual trim. Especially with elevator trim. Two reasons. Firstly it doesn't react fast enough to speed changes. Otherwise once it does, when very slow it tends to correct nose high and when very fast nose low. So it's a help but it's not perfect. It's also about useless if you have damaged control surfaces and are trying to get home. It's kinda wonky then. Manual trim is indispensable there. As a guy that regularly loses parts I know!
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
I second this!
A good tactic for a taking off with nearby threats is climbing in your maneuvering speed range instead of climb speed range.
True....and I'll leave my opinions regarding "In Pursuit" out of this....feel free to search for them in the "Help & Training" forum if you want to read them...roughly 14 to 17 years ago...
Yeah I think one of the things in the fighter tactics book was maintaining verticle maneuvering speed as a minimum in a combat area. Options man. Don't take all of them away from yourself. Bad enough the other guy is trying to do that to ya!
Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk
If you ever find the time, you should return to the AH Training Corps, LOL...seriously though
As soon as you roll on take-off you can hit combat trim and get the same effect as auto take-off....especially rolling from a capped field it is ill advised to use auto take-off... You will need to have options/speed to jink / evade vulching threats which is much easier to accomplish if not using auto take-off....
"Fight like you train, Train like you fight"
Edit: let me add that those tests y'all were doing in the 109K4's....using manual take-off and soon as wheels up go level and build speed quickly over 250 IAS, you can trim off 5 to 10 seconds verses the auto take-off method to 2,000 ft angels and be around 3k angels or higher...... Just an FYI
Good luck and hope this helps
TC