[TIP]Combination of controls on the throttle

[greybeard_52]

Sorry again if I'm reinventing the wheel for the old hands of this forum; I thought to share this anyway for some guy like me relatively new and still climbing on the learning curve.
I was inspired by the underlined note related to the P-47 engine management (please see attachment), so I tried to bind together the three commands on the same throttle lever of my cheap Flight Hotas X (please see attached screenshot). It worked (please see images). I think it recreates actual way to move levers together by the pilot's hand, and indeed it gives an advantage allowing to get by a single command max power revolutions when required, as well as reducing consumption during cruise by lowering RPM.
I tested that it works also for Spitfire IXe, but I believe it should work for many other aircraft.

P.S.: of course all this makes sense only if you didn't set any relevant pilot help in your difficulty setting.

Edited November 9, 2022 by greybeard_52

[greybeard_52]

P.P.S.: I think there's an exception (so far): after having tested P-40E-1 I believe it can be better managed keeping throttle and pitch separated. Thanks to developers it is now possible, setting a profile customized for this plane.

[greybeard_52]

A short demonstrative video:

 

 

Edited November 10, 2022 by greybeard_52

[greybeard_52]

Update: I've only just discovered that there is already a three lever interlock command, but it only works for the P-47 (I haven't tried them all, but I can't find any others yet - please let me know if there are any and which).

I think this is right, because in many aircraft the knobs were not arranged in such a way that they could be operated together. However, the "trick" works and, although it may be considered a "hack", it could still be realistic for planes like the P-51 and the Spitfire (I think - for the P-51 it can be seen from the attached photo that, at least , the pitch lever was dragged back by the throttle lever).

On this occasion, I would like to suggest an alternative key combination for controlling the oil cooler, for those who, like me, do not have a Right Windows key on their keyboard.

What is certain is that I have a lot of fun tinkering with these virtual planes; too bad that in career mode there is no possibility to start parked, so as to be able to do all the starting maneuvers.

[Skycat1969]

The P-47 is a unique aircraft in this game for how 'hands on' it is. As you have discovered, there is an interlink option that allows you to connect the throttle to either the tubo-charger lever or the RPM lever; or all three together. Other fighters may have a manually controlled water cooled radiator and/or oil radiator, but the P-47 is fun because it has a manually controlled intercooler, oil cooler AND cowl flaps. Lots to manage if you like that.

 

I've found that linking the turbo and throttle gives me the best performance in this game. I try to use historic manual settings for the RPM and cowl flaps. I set oil cooler and intercooler to fully open for takeoff, then decrease to neutral during cruise after I can bring the engine power down.

[greybeard_52]

2 hours ago, Skycat1969 said:

Lots to manage if you like that.

In addition to the fun of seeing all those levers move and wheels turn as if I were maneuvering them, this seems to me a way to study history, learning about the peculiarities of each aircraft and the "management" difficulties that its pilot encountered. This means, in my case, that my mission often ends early because I have burned out the engine, or that the enemy AI knocks me down while I was distracted trying to adjust the radiator... But, you know, the balance between realism and playability is subjective, the good thing is that this simulator allows you to choose and find it!