Heinkel Bombsight

[Reflected]

Folks,

 

Recently I really got into flying the Heinkel. It's great fun to plan your mission, climb to a safe height, then wipe those targets off the Earth (Secretly wishing for a B-17 one day in 1c/777 engine). I have a question though:

 

When I switch to bombsight mode, the altimeter there shows a lower altitude than the one on the instrument panel in cockpit view. Is it QFE/ QHN? Or jsut a bug? Which one should I take into account?

 

Thanks a lot,

Greg

[Y-29.Silky]

Big +1 for the B-17 with this engine.

But if it's not a bug, I think one is from sea level, the other ground level, that's what I was told at least. I've been wondering the same thing, it's been preventing me from flying it.

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

**snip**

 

But if it's not a bug, I think one is from sea level, the other ground level, that's what I was told at least. I've been wondering the same thing, it's been preventing me from flying it.

 

Reflected and Silky, the above does not appear to be the case.  I did some testing and here is what I found.

 

In QMB I spawned in a He-111 at the Ahtuba (Eastern most single spawn point) on the Stalingrad map.  I headed west toward the Volga and when I was right over the water I took my readings for two flights.  I was on level stab.

 

First flight I set at 1000m.  The altimeter read 1100m while the bombsight read 1000m or a difference of 100m.

Second flight I set at 4000m.  The altimeter read 4350m while the bombsight read 4000m or a difference of 350m.

 

Since both readings were done over the same river in approximately the same spot, the ground level should be the same for both flights yet the difference in the two readings between the altimeter and the bombsight increases with altitude.

 

I have no explanation for the variance or why it would change depending on altitude.  I suggest using the altitude that shows on the bombsight as a starting point for level bombing.

[LukeFF]

When I switch to bombsight mode, the altimeter there shows a lower altitude than the one on the instrument panel in cockpit view. Is it QFE/ QHN? Or jsut a bug? Which one should I take into account?

 

According to VikS, the bombsight altimeter is showing barometric altitude and thus the one you want to be referencing when setting up the bombsight.  

Edited August 2, 2015 by LukeFF