LtLite posted 03-03-99 01:16 PM ET (US)        

My question is this for you serious BUF drivers: How do you get the B-17 with 6 1000 lb bombs to 20K feet and how long does it take you to get there? (e.g., what rate of climb do you use, throttle setting, do you use auto-angle, that sort of thing) It seems when I try offline with a 10K air launch, I can fly for most of an hour and only gain 3-4K feet and the most climb rate I can get is about 100-150 feet per minute. Any tips?

Thanks!

Walt (lt-buhd-lite) Barrow :D

azrael posted 03-03-99 02:00 PM ET (US)            

Make sure you don't have the 'easy' flight model enabled since this will prevent your B17 from flying slower than ~150 MpH.

Don't take too much fuel, the B17 needs ~164 seconds to burn 1% fuel at full throttle.

Use speed-trim and try 135 below 8-10k, 145 below 15k and 155 above 15k altitude.

Az

WB.de: azrael

XO 487th Bomber Group (Heavy)

'The Gentlemen from Hell'

Bino posted 03-03-99 02:01 PM ET (US)            

I have tagged along with some dedicated bombers. Most B-17 drivers seem to only take aloft 20-30% fuel and use 135-145 MPH as their autopilot's "climbspeed", with a resulting climbrate of 500-750 FPM. YMMV.

Cnuk posted 03-03-99 02:13 PM ET (US)            

Am I correct in remembering that in airlaunch gear are down? Even if not, it's easy to forget them down when taking off in a large group with instructions, knock-knock jokes and hot lead are all incoming. Gear up, flaps up and auto climb with above speeds and fuel.

Cnuk

funked posted 03-03-99 03:14 PM ET (US)            

Autospeed anywhere from 135 to 150.

No flaps, gear up of course.

Don't take more than 20% fuel unless you are planning a world tour!

GunsGG posted 03-03-99 05:50 PM ET (US)            

With a load of 12 1000 lbrs, take no more than 30% fuel....you can circumnavigate the map with that. At a 90% throttle if you are in formation, or 100% if you are not, setting your auto climb to 150IAS will give you 500-750 fpm. A lighter load of 2x2000&8x100 will give you a climb of about 1000fpm

Hope this helps

450th (cottontails) BG(H)

GunsGG posted 03-04-99 07:27 AM ET (US)            

Ahem...:*

12x500 is what I know I meant....It's rough losing ones...what was that?