Tag: stick and rudder

Spitfire in my mirror

April 8th, 2024

High tides and Spitfires!

Off the coast of Normandy on a rollercoaster down to enemy ship!

Ahoy, fellow flight simmers! Get ready to witness a thrilling adventure as we dive into the captivating world of fighter maneuvers. Picture this: vast oceans, an enemy ship, and daring pilot that would not yield – the perfect recipe for an epic tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

In this writing, we’ll explore the excitement and intrigue that comes with war on sea vessels drama. From swashbuckling bombing and rocket attacks on enemy ships to getting jumped by enemy fighters to crashing nose first into the ocean, there’s no shortage of thrilling stories to uncover. So grab your lifejacket and join us as we navigate through the turbulent waters of simulated naval warfare and air battles in DCS. It’s going to be a wild ride!

rocket attack, bombing, enemy fighters, naval warfare, sea battles

The Unexpected Turn: From Attack to Evasion Maneuvers

In the midst of a high-stakes bombing situation, and suddenly, you need to switch gears from offense to defense. How do you navigate this unexpected plot twist with finesse and skill? You unlock your canopy and maintain a very keen situational awareness, and spatial orientation. Sounds simple? Others have struggled and died trying to do them all at once.

The Cat and Mouse Game: Outsmarting the Enemy with low-level attacks.

Most of the time if not all of the time luftwaffe kept on coming against Allied shipping in Normandy. Brazen daylight attacks such as the one recorded were frequent goals to sink or damage ships carrying troops and supplies crucial for the invasion’s success.. The premise of a Spitfire appearing also was a very common occurrence during the war. The constant threat of Spitfire interceptions forced the Luftwaffe to adopt tactics like low-level attacks to avoid radar detection.

The Attack

After I spotted an enemy LST ship, soon after dropping down from 2000 meters with the target within the reference zone (envisioning an imaginary bubble around the canopy that just touches the inner wing-wing root junction all around the cockpit frame), skipping across the waves as I peel off the target with a steady 250kg bomb splashed near the ships port broadside, a huge frothing explosion takes place, cooking up a geyser of flame that engulfed the port side of the ship, signaling the beginning of its demise.

billowing fires erupting from LST mk2

Follow-up attack with rockets

Again, maneuvering the aircraft with a left hand turn, the pipper just dropped below the burning ship, immediately I press the pickle on the rocket release switch and two 21 cm Werfergranate rockets with a 5.5 seconds delay spew smoke as they race towards the stricken ship broadside, to be followed by a huge waterline detonation and a frothy splash that just spewed water up to the canopy as I break off, now facing a new challenge – the Spitfire in the mirror.

rocket attack on a LST mkII

Achtung Spitfire!

I am soon greeted by an enemy Spitfire that just appeared on my six following the rocket attack. I barely had enough time to react after his tracers struck my left wing

Conclusions

This attack was both a success and a failure. It had demonstrated the agility of the Fw190 and also showed the importance of not becoming too target fixated and also to keep an eye out on the front hemisphere while defending against bandits. After losing the bandit, as evident in the video, the ocean took care of the rest.
Stick and Rudder: a pilots guide to flying the Focke-wulf 190 in DCS

April 3rd, 2024
Introduction

The Focke-Wulf 190, a legendary warbird known for its agility and performance, demands a pilot’s respect and understanding. Conquering its unique flight characteristics in DCS is essential for a smooth and successful mission. This article delves into the axial tendencies, and weathercocking behavior of the Focke-Wulf 190, equipping you with the knowledge to become one with this remarkable machine in the simulation.

The Design problem

Three distinctive control issues are observed in any warbird:
* adverse yaw
* pitch authority
* rolling tendency
In adverse yaw, the nose of the aircraft wants to turn as a reaction to the engine propeller spinning in the opposite direction. This creates a crabbing effect in controlling the aircraft on the ground. Also shares in the rolling tendency. The pitch authority also comes into play if the warbird features a prominent elevator coupled with a design flaw. The end result is the Fw190’s tendencies to exceed the Me 109.

Tendencies
- Lively Response: The Focke-Wulf 190 boasts excellent elevator control, translating pilot inputs into crisp elevator movements. This translates to a fast pitch response, requiring a pilot’s touch to maintain smooth altitude control. Be mindful of overcorrecting during climbs and descents.
- Tight Turns: Aileron control is similarly responsive, enabling the Focke-Wulf 190 to execute sharp turns. However, due to its powerful engine, these maneuvers can induce adverse yaw (explained later). Apply ailerons progressively and coordinate with rudder inputs for balanced turns.
Adverse yaw
- Adverse Yaw: As mentioned earlier, the Focke-Wulf 190’s strong engine torque can cause adverse yaw during rolling maneuvers. When ailerons are deflected to initiate a turn, the engine torque tends to yaw the aircraft in the opposite direction. To counteract this, coordinated rudder input is necessary. Apply rudder pressure in the direction of the turn along with aileron deflection.
- Engine Power Management: Managing engine power plays a crucial role in yaw control. Abrupt throttle changes can induce yaw. Smooth throttle adjustments and coordinated rudder inputs are key for maintaining directional stability.
Weathercocking

The Focke-Wulf 190 exhibits positive weathercocking stability. This means the nose tends to point into the relative wind, aiding pilots during crosswind landings. However, this effect can also cause the aircraft to drift during takeoff if not countered with proper rudder input.

Taming the Focke-Wulf 190 requires practice and honed pilot skills. By understanding its pitching, rolling, yawing tendencies, and weathercocking behavior, you can develop the necessary coordination to achieve smooth and precise flight control. Remember, respect the aircraft’s responsiveness, prioritize coordinated control inputs, and manage engine power effectively. With practice, you’ll be soaring through the skies with confidence, mastering the legend that is the Focke-Wulf 190.

Controllability tips
- Consult the Focke-Wulf 190 pilot’s manual for specific control surface deflection recommendations and limitations, and familiarize yourself with emergency procedures specific to the Focke-Wulf 190.
- Seek training from an experienced Focke-Wulf 190 pilot or instructor for a comprehensive understanding of the aircraft’s handling characteristics.
- When pulling the aircraft be sure to trim power down to avoid excessive lift from the relative windflow on the huge wings.
- By following these guidelines and fostering a keen understanding of the Focke-Wulf 190’s unique flight characteristics, you’ll be well on your way to conquering the skies in this remarkable aircraft.
Stick and Rudder – Fw 190 fuel starvation management

March 29th, 2024
how to manage fuel starvation in the fw190 in DCS

Introduction

If you fly the 190 a lot of you probably have been in a situation where the engine suddenly sputters then the RPM fluctuates, and then the engine just quits. If you’ve made it down safely chances are you are researching why this happened. Here is what happened: fuel starvation!

What is fuel starvation?

Fuel starvation is a condition where there is impedence on the engine fuel supply circuit that causes inefficient fuel delivery to the combustion chamber which leads in turn to the engine seizure and/or loss of powerplant (powerplant failure)

What causes fuel starvation?

In the Fw-190 this is the fuel system:

Fw190 fuel system diagram from DCS Fw190 A8 manual by Eagle Dynamics

Any leak or blockage due to foreign objects or fuel crystalization inside the fuel circuit can cause fuel system impedence and engine starvation of fuel

How does fuel starvation manifest in Fw190?
1. Engine RPM and ATA gauges start to decay,
2. Engine governor automation attempts to maintain RPM by auto feathering, increasing fuel consumption from the depleted tank,
3. Oil in the engine block is overheating, therefore the oil pump stops the oil to protect the engine cylinder block which causes the oil pressure gauge to drop,
4. as fuel stops flowing to the engine block, fuel pressure gauge also drops
5. Engine seizes
How to manage fuel starvation in Fw190?

To start, determine if the starvation is in fact starvation. Cycle the fuel tank selector lever from the forward to the aft to the feed tank. If the RPM begins to rise then it is a fuel exhaustion and simply turning the feed to another tank solves your problem, otherwise it is a fuel starvation and may demand extra steps. Reference our video above for more. Thanks for reading this far, and if you like to ask about anything let me know in the comments. Until next time!