Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

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p38man
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue 28. Jun 2011, 08:42

Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by p38man »

Hi I am an FSX newbie so please be gentle.

I have 4 questions (flying in complex mode not "just fly")

(1) Prop pitch
The manual is great as it shows how to use the prop pitch and rpm for takeoff, climb, cruise and landing on page 13 - but I don't understand the terminology.
The prop pitch is like a clock ? So if it is for example at the 11:00 position this is very high and if I move it a little to 12:00 then it is off, then 1:00 it is on very low ?
So takeoff is at zero (12:00), climb is low (3:00), cruise is zero (12:00) and landing is zero (like takeoff) ?

(2) I was wondering how the gear ratchet fits into this?

(3) I want to get DVDs and books on the BF108 but I cannot find any. Anyone know of any?

(4) For Mathias - is it possible to get some of the pictures of the actual BF108 you took? Forgive me for asking but your excellent FSX model has me really interested in this plane now and before I had never heard of it.

What a great FSX plane!
kleineMax
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed 11. May 2011, 19:16

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by kleineMax »

(1) Dont think about the position so much like a clock, they wrote it that way in the manual just to help understanding what they were explaning. Just think of it more like a screw, the more you turn it clockwise (rightturn) the more you increase the pitch of the prop. With increasing of the pitch you reduce the rpm.

(2) It has nothing todo with it...

(4) for pictures just search the web for D-EBFW or D-IBFW, or maybe even ask the owners: http://www.fliegerwerft.de/index.php?op ... 5&Itemid=4 (If they complete there Website ^^)
Mathias Pommerien
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Location: Uelzen/Germany
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Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by Mathias Pommerien »

Hello p38man,

the idea behind the clock terminology on German period aircraft is that the pilot just needs to visualize a few "clock" settings to operate the aircraft.
In our case it's refering to the red needle on the prop pitch dial.
Those three clock settings are just over-the-thumb values so you should be aware of the rpm limits nonetheless.
And yes, you got it right: 12:00 for takeoff and landing, 3:00 for climb and 12:00 one full revolution of the red needle clock-wise for cruise.
Again, that's just rough guidelines.

not a lot of dedicated Bf108 literature of films around.
There's a number of modeller magazines around, the one with the most historical information probably being mongram Close-Up #5 Bf 108 Taifun from 1979.
With luck you can find a used copy at an internet auction or library.
A 1976 Air Internatiol had a lengthy article dealing with the Bf108, but it's mostly a reprint of parts of the period manuals.

Period manuals in pdf format or as reprints can be purchased at
http://www.luftfahrt-archiv-hafner.de/


Youtube has a number of historical and current film material.
Here's a youtube video of "our" D-EBFW.
If you look close you will find that the manifold pressure gauge and the airspeed indicator have changed since the video was taken. :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8epCbxY ... re=feedlik

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Mathias Pommerien (Classics Hangar)

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p38man
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue 28. Jun 2011, 08:42

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by p38man »

Thanks a lot both of you - with both of the explanations combined I now understand the prop pitch.

The gear ratchet is of course for the landing gear - I was actually thinking about "gears" because I raise and lower the landing gear with my Saitek Switch Panel. Silly me!
(the trim wheel works great with the Saitek Multi-panel as well)


I really love the photos !!! It truly shows how great your FSX model is - it looks exactly the same!! Awesome! You would not have any more would you???? (especially would like to see the the throttle side of the VC)

Love the video.

Thanks for the book recommendations - will look into it. I have Wings of the Luftwaffe by Eric Brown which is great for the Focke Wulf Fw190.

By the way - I am going to Europe for a holiday soon and will be going to Munich and the Romantic road (but no other places in Germany)

Are there any places where a Focke Wulf FW190 or Bf108 Taifun or other old aircraft could be seen ?? eg museum, air show etc

Any german bookshops that specialise in military/aviation ?
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bmd
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon 14. Dec 2009, 16:47

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by bmd »

Hello,

For adjusting the engine power and the pitch propeler angle I use the following procedure:

1/ First adjust the throttle to obtain the desired manifold pressure. In doing so I try to avoid pressure greater than 0.8 ATA

2/ Then I ajust the propeler pitch by rotating the pitch lever to obtain the desired RPM. I try to maintain a 1890 RPM value. In some circonstance you will have to do several turns of the lever to obtain the desiired RPM value.

On my computer adjusting first the manifold pressure and after the propeler pitch, give better result than thereverse order. In doing so I reduce the number of pitch adjustment.

But I do not know, if with the real airplane, the pilots are doing the things in this way.

Have a good day

Benoit
p38man
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue 28. Jun 2011, 08:42

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by p38man »

Thanks a lot Benoit! - that makes it easy to understand.
gulfstreamtwo
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat 8. Oct 2011, 04:23

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by gulfstreamtwo »

bmd wrote:Hello,

For adjusting the engine power and the pitch propeler angle I use the following procedure:

1/ First adjust the throttle to obtain the desired manifold pressure. In doing so I try to avoid pressure greater than 0.8 ATA

2/ Then I ajust the propeler pitch by rotating the pitch lever to obtain the desired RPM. I try to maintain a 1890 RPM value. In some circonstance you will have to do several turns of the lever to obtain the desiired RPM value.

On my computer adjusting first the manifold pressure and after the propeler pitch, give better result than thereverse order. In doing so I reduce the number of pitch adjustment.

But I do not know, if with the real airplane, the pilots are doing the things in this way.

Have a good day

Benoit
The normal procedure when reducing power is: reduce throttle (lower manifold pressure) first, then increase pitch (lower RPM).

When adding power, it's the reverse: decrease pitch (higher RPM) followed by increase throttle (higher manifold pressure).

Herman Ross
Seattle, USA
p38man
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue 28. Jun 2011, 08:42

Re: Prop pitch, Gear ratchet and info request

Post by p38man »

Ok got it - Thanks a lot for that !

Have a super day.
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