Radiators: What did pilot workload look like in the real world?

[Charon]

Here's something I've been mulling over.

 

When I fly in Il-2, I find that water radiators and outlet cowl shutters are the most frequently adjusted. Oil radiators typically have little impact on drag, so I'm willing to leave them open or partially open, and rarely adjust them. Water radiators, on the other hand, have a large impact on drag and so I tend to work them quite aggressively, opening them at low speeds only to slam them shut in a dive.

 

However, when I look at cockpit ergonomics, what I see seems to suggest that oil temperature was more important:

 

Bf 109E-7: The oil radiator is controlled by a lever on the throttle quadrant, while the water radiator is controlled by cranking awkwardly with the right hand.

 

Bf 110: The oil radiators are controlled by a pair of levers right behind the throttle, while the water radiators are controlled by two selectors on either side of the stick.

 

La-5: The oil radiator is to the left of the seat, easily reachable with the pilot's throttle hand, while the cowl shutters are controlled with a wheel on the pilot's right. Strangely, this is unlike the LaGG-3, where both radiator controls are to the pilot's left.

 

Il-2: Both controls are on the right side, but the oil shutter is a simple lever, while the water radiator is a large wheel.

 

P-39: Both controls are on the right side, but the oil radiator is a simple lever and the water radiator is an awkward crank.

 

P-47: The oil radiators and intercoolers are controlled by toggle switches within easy reach of the pilot's throttle hand, while the cowl flaps must be controlled with the right hand by means of a plunger.

 

Exceptions are the Mig-3 and Yaks, where both controls appear equally awkward.

 

----

 

What should we infer from this? That oil was less tolerant of temperature excursions, and so the controls are in easy reach to ensure they were not neglected? That oil temperature doesn't vary too much, and so a relatively coarse control will suffice? Or simply that it was convenient to place the oil radiator control beside other rods that needed to pass through the firewall? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Edited July 18, 2023 by I./JG3_Charon

[BlitzPig_EL]

Basically we should conclude that the science of cockpit ergonomics was still in it's infancy.  I suspect many of the secondary controls were placed to make their cable and or linkage runs in the airframe easier, rather than making it easier for the meat servo to operate them.

[Sandmarken]

I wonder if most pilots micromanaged the radiators like we often do, or maybe they mostly just had them open? Seems most nations tried to make the radiators automatic, coud it be that they found the manual radiators to be too much work? 

[cardboard_killer]

Probably the manufacturers decided that they could charge more money if they added automatic stuff.

[Sandmarken]

5 minutes ago, cardboard_killer said:

Probably the manufacturers decided that they could charge more money if they added automatic stuff.

Premium package ??

[ZachariasX]

On 7/18/2023 at 8:22 AM, I./JG3_Charon said:

What should we infer from this?

If you are an aircraft designer who grew up with aircraft that:

- constantly sprays oil in your face

- (and consequently) give you the runs while still in flight

- have a throttle that works somewhat between 75% and 100% power, otherwise you must get creative with mixture and mags

- have no wheelbrakes despite no real throttle arrangement

- need to be rigged new after maneuvering, as the cables may behave a bit organically

then having controls set up in a somewhat English way is not too much of an issue.

 

A low workload environment is still, to this day, a vastly underappreciated feature.

[CUJO_1970]

Just get yourself a FW190 and you don’t have to fiddle with any of that junk?

 

That way you are free to concentrate on being outnumbered 20-1 ?

[danielprates]

Players are always changing key bindings and that results dozens or even 100dreds of alternate settings... imagine if RL pilots could tweak those just as easily. No single airplane would be the same as far as lever placement goes.

Edited July 20, 2023 by danielprates

[Charger_]

Flying the same crate all the time would help a lot im sure. 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Charger_

[kestrel79]

Growing up playing a lot of IL2 '46 where you didn't really have to watch the Rads and Prop much...this sim really opened my eyes to hard it really was to fly one of these things back then.

 

You have to manage all that stuff, plus try to stay in formation and on course, and then on top of all that try not to get shot down and die. Crazy! Much respect.