Inverted flight

[SchniX]

Hi,

 

I notice that flying inverted for long period of time(about 10 seconds and more) doesn't stops the fuel to the engine, and the engine continue to work and not getting any fuel starvation.

 

Is this feature missing?

 

Thx

 

 

[-TBC-AeroAce]

Lol

[Zettman]

Hi,

 

I notice that flying inverted for long period of time(about 10 seconds and more) doesn't stops the fuel to the engine, and the engine continue to work and not getting any fuel starvation.

 

Is this feature missing?

 

Thx

 

S!

 

I think this applies only to early WW2 planes, many the ones that also fought in the Spanish Civil War. But I could be wrong on that.

 

Zettman

[Potenz]

fuel starvation will happen only on planes with carburator, i'm not sure about russian engines but Geman ones has all

fuel injection  systems that eliminate that problem with inverted flight

[Leaf]

Yeah, fuel injection solves that issue. I'm pretty sure all planes over Stalingrad used injection systems over carburettors. 

[SKG51_robtek]

The problem then wasn't the missing fuel but the missing oil, prolonged inverted flight would lead to a seized engine.

[Crump]

Right, Oil starvation is the limiting factor and most World War II aircraft where not cleared for inverted flight outside of a few seconds.

 

 

If you look in the aircraft POH, it will give you the inverted flight restrictions.

IIRC, the Bf-109 and FW-190 were both limited to 10 seconds.  I would have to look it up though.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Crump

[JtD]

The problem with fuel starvation on aircraft is mostly related to float type carburettors. Not all aircraft in this game have direct fuel injection, all Russian aircraft have carburettors to my knowledge, but these are not of the float type kind. So fuel is not metered by a gravity depending mechanisms - it's OK that the engines of the aircraft in game do not die due to fuel starvation (or also possible, too much fuel).

[rigbyDerekb1948]

A Bf109 crash-landed at an airshow in Europe about a year ago after engine-failure due to fuel -starvation (it has since been repaired and has flown again). 

The inquiry into the incident found that the pilot had flown inverted for too long, causing the fuel-flow problem. 

I have had the Bf109G engine in BoS cut out briefly a number of times (for 3 or 4 seconds) after inverted dogfight maneuvers, and have assumed that this is a correct modelling of the fuel-system.

Perhaps some of the more knowledgeable folk could comment?

[SchniX]

Ok thx all

 

I tried again to fly inverted, but this time for much longer than 10 seconds, even few minutes, and the results are that the Russian planes lost engine power after some time(much more than 10 seconds), the fuel pressure gauge is showing loosing of fuel pressure, but maybe it's misreading because of the inverted flight? anyway, about the oil pressure i didn't notice any different in the gauge too much, if at all.

 

In the 109 and 190 i tried flying inverted for few minutes and nothing happened, they continue flying inverted without any problem.

[-NW-ChiefRedCloud]

Hard to say if this is modeled correctly but since it's one of those things not done often (flying upside down for a length of time) it may not be.  It's sort of like some of the tests done by individual pilots in RoF as to say landing on a dock that is not modeled for a collision factor and sinking into it. Simply put it was never considered that one would want to do that. Hence it was never modeled. Here, with this, I really do not know.

 

Chief

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

A Bf109 crash-landed at an airshow in Europe about a year ago after engine-failure due to fuel -starvation (it has since been repaired and has flown again). 

The inquiry into the incident found that the pilot had flown inverted for too long, causing the fuel-flow problem. 

I have had the Bf109G engine in BoS cut out briefly a number of times (for 3 or 4 seconds) after inverted dogfight maneuvers, and have assumed that this is a correct modelling of the fuel-system.

Perhaps some of the more knowledgeable folk could comment?

Caused by a faulty injector - not a flaw in the design of the 109.

 

If the fuel injection system is functioning correctly, negative G's or inversion should have no effect.

Right, Oil starvation is the limiting factor and most World War II aircraft where not cleared for inverted flight outside of a few seconds.

 

P-51 inverted flight.jpg

 

If you look in the aircraft POH, it will give you the inverted flight restrictions.

IIRC, the Bf-109 and FW-190 were both limited to 10 seconds.  I would have to look it up though.

This. Limited by your oil, not your fuel.

[HagarTheHorrible]

I haven't tried it recenty, life is just to busy at the moment, but one of my favorite tricks during the early access, when flying the LaGG 3, was to fly high and inverted for extended periods. There were no ill effects on the aircraft or pilot.

[GP*]

Modern fighters still have ops limits for inverted flight due to oil starvation. It's a real thing.