Simple question about aircraft range/endurance and IAi

[Dutchvdm]

Hi Guys,

 

In the aircraft in game description and manual the range of every aircraft is noted like this:

 

"Flight endurance at 3000 m: 2.6 h, at 350 km/h IAS.

 

Does this mean the optimal range of the aircraft is 350 * 2,6 = 910 km? Or do i need to calculate TAS first? 

 

Thnx

 

Grt M 

Edited September 19, 2018 by I./ZG1_Martijnvdm

[LeLv76_Erkki]

I'm not conviced those figures are accurate and they for sure depend on altitude and other factors. You pretty much need to experiment and test fuel mileage at various altitudes and engine settings. Best endurance setting doesnt necessarily give you best range.... For example I'm pretty sure Bf 109 can take off, climb and then fuel save near 3 hours at 6000 m, ATA 0.6, 1600 RPM but that will results in something like 230 kmph IAS only.

[Dutchvdm]

Hi LeLv76_Erkki,

 

These figures are the results of the developers own tests and results can be different in other conditions. Altitude is listed (3000M), and while more endurance may be possible with slower speeds, that was not really my point. I was primarily wondering about whether i should consider TAS in this calculation or not. 

 

Grt M

[LeLv76_Erkki]

11 minutes ago, I./ZG1_Martijnvdm said:

Hi LeLv76_Erkki,

 

These figures are the results of the developers own tests and results can be different in other conditions. Altitude is listed (3000M), and while more endurance may be possible with slower speeds, that was not really my point. I was primarily wondering about whether i should consider TAS in this calculation or not. 

 

Grt M

 

You will not achieve optimal range nor endurance at listed speeds and altitudes. Yes you need to make IAS to TAS conversion, theres quite a bit of difference at 3000 m already.

[wombatBritishBulldogs]

Have a go on  Knights of the Air Multiplayer Server if you want a good indication of real ingame flight times weighted with munitions or  not ! It is recommended you run full tanks with the single engines sensible loads with multi engines . 

Edited September 19, 2018 by wombatBritishBulldogs

[unreasonable]

12 hours ago, I./ZG1_Martijnvdm said:

Hi LeLv76_Erkki,

 

These figures are the results of the developers own tests and results can be different in other conditions. Altitude is listed (3000M), and while more endurance may be possible with slower speeds, that was not really my point. I was primarily wondering about whether i should consider TAS in this calculation or not. 

 

Grt M

 

If you are using endurance to decide maximum range on a map, you need to consider not just TAS but speed over the ground, taking into account wind speed and direction.  Depending on the map, winds at 3000m can be three or more times ground speed: so the effect could be material if you are planning a long trip.  It all depends how accurate you need to be.

 

 

[Art-J]

Martijn, keep in mind that optimal speed for max endurance is by definition different from optimal speed for max range, but you seem to know that. Former always being lower than latter, they cannot be derived from each other (just like optimal speeds for max climb rate and max climb angle are different too). In either case, I seem to recall (someone correct me if I'm wrong) Breguet formulas for range and endurance are supposed to be used with TAS indeed, so for more simple calculations, I'd go with TAS too.

 

Just to be sure, as noted above, I would do some actual test flights in game environment with preferred loadout anyway.