Not Reaching Maximum Speed

[Coffresi]

Hello. I am new to the forum and to Flying Circus. I just started flying and want to learn my way around the different types of aircrafts. I started my first mission in NORMAL MODE with the Albatross DVa and noticed that I cannot reach the aircrafts advertised speed unless I am in a nosedive. My maximum speed in a moderate climb at about 500m is only about 100 k/hr (I believe I should be able to climb faster). It makes it hard for me to stay with the rest of my wingmen, and I am always getting the warnings from the AI that my speed is to slow. I have the throttle control mapped to my Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. I thought that there may be something wrong with the throttle slider in the joystick so I remapped it back to the standard game throttle control on the keyboard - and = keys with the same results. I also tried flying a different aircraft, both using the joystick and the keyboard and was having the same issue. Again I am flying in NORMAL MODE. Am I doing something wrong? or is this normal? Any help will be greatly appreciated, I really don't want to buy another joystick if I don't need to. Thanks.  

[J2_Oelmann]

You might to need some constant forward pressure on the stick and atiny bit rudder to get the most out of it. There is no trim and the albatros as most of the other planes starts to climp if you center the stick.

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

1 hour ago, J2_Oelmann said:

You might to need some constant forward pressure on the stick and atiny bit rudder to get the most out of it. There is no trim and the albatros as most of the other planes starts to climp if you center the stick.

With some planes (i hope some regular albatros pilots offer more specific suggestions regarding that particular aircraft), having the proper mix can effect your top speed at level flight.

[HagarTheHorrible]

Alby, same as Pflaz D III and vanilla VII, equipped with the Mercedes D IIIa engine, is auto mix.  Actually that’s not quite correct, it is set to thick at low altitude, correct at approx 3000 m (if memory serves, and I’ve got it the correct way around ?) and increasingly lean above that altitude.  Radiator is the only engine specific control, other than the throttle, obviously ?. 
Talking of radiators, make sure that you don’t fly with it fully open (radiator slats point, more or less, up down, rather than flat with the air flow. To get full speed you may need to close it completely, but you’ll need to keep a close eye on your temperature, I can assure you, there is nothing quite as detrimental to a pilots health (online) as a nice, big, white trail of steam, telling everybody where you are and that you’re probably a noob to boot.  Lastly, don’t expect to run away from anything in an Alby, speed is not your friend.

Edited January 10, 2022 by HagarTheHorrible

[J2_Trupobaw]

IRL the plane speeds are measured with 50% fuel load; not sure about the in-game specifications. If you are not flying in ISA at optimal engine temperature, the measurements may be further off.

The optimal climbing speed for most 1917 planes is about 65-75mph... close to 100-120  km/h.

The planes don't match the specs perfectly anyway, and German Mercedes-driven planes fall to short rather than to long as a rule. You can always blame the weight of parachute you are dragging for lowered performance (there is no relation between lowered performance and presence of chute in game physics that I heard of, but the final result happens works out as if they were  ).

[US103_Baer]

On 1/8/2022 at 3:52 AM, Coffresi said:

Hello. I am new to the forum and to Flying Circus. I just started flying and want to learn my way around the different types of aircrafts. I started my first mission in NORMAL MODE with the Albatross DVa and noticed that I cannot reach the aircrafts advertised speed unless I am in a nosedive. My maximum speed in a moderate climb at about 500m is only about 100 k/hr (I believe I should be able to climb faster). It makes it hard for me to stay with the rest of my wingmen, and I am always getting the warnings from the AI that my speed is to slow. I have the throttle control mapped to my Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. I thought that there may be something wrong with the throttle slider in the joystick so I remapped it back to the standard game throttle control on the keyboard - and = keys with the same results. I also tried flying a different aircraft, both using the joystick and the keyboard and was having the same issue. Again I am flying in NORMAL MODE. Am I doing something wrong? or is this normal? Any help will be greatly appreciated, I really don't want to buy another joystick if I don't need to. Thanks.  

 

Performance testing needs to take place using International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) as Trupo suggests

ISA does not change by season or region of flight. It is only impacted when altitude decreases or increases. In the ISA model, the standard sea level pressure/temperature is 29.92 inches of mercury (760mm) and 59°F (15°C)

 

Most of us use the Kuban map for this. I believe Autumn Kuban in the morning is appropriate, however our squadron has a dedicated server map using ISA for testing purposes.

 

I ran the Alb DVa at around 20m altitude and achieved the FC Specs target of 169kph in sustained level flight.
So i suspect that the differences in performance you're seeing is a result of not flying near sea level with ISA. Possibly 'normal' mode impacted performance too. Use expert or whatever the mode without assists is called.
Having said all that, the Alb is slow, can hardly climb and the wings fall off if they see a bullet. You're much better off in a D7 or Pfalz DIIIa if 1917 if that's the aim. Better still,  the SE5a or SPAD XIII!

 

Edited January 13, 2022 by US28_Baer