In an effort to help new Jug pilots, or those whom are intimidated by its somewhat complex engine management enough to give this fine aircraft a pass, I’ve started this topic as a resource for both sharing reference material and experiences learned by those flying the sim. Please add your best practices.
Disclaimer: I’m far from an expert and still learning how best to employ the DCS Jug. Furthermore, the P-47D is still in early release and subject to modification and refinement by the developer.
New Jug Pilots
There are a lot of engine management controls in a P-47D. But you can set it up with a basic configuration and not have much to manage while you are getting comfortable in the airplane. Set mixture Auto Rich, RPM to 2550, throttle/boost latched, oil and intercooler shutters to neutral (50%), and have control mapped for cowl flaps. Take off like this and once you are above 200 mph, close the cowl flaps. Using the throttle as desired, keeping manifold pressure around 45 inches except takeoff and combat.
Advanced
Map controls for unlatching throttle and boost levers, controls for opening and closing oil and intercooler shutters, and a button for toggling water-methanol injection.
Even though you can use boost at low altitudes, since the supercharger is gear driven, you loose up to 300 horsepower engaging the turbosupercharger. This more or less negates the gained higher manifold pressure. As altitude increases, the mechanical disadvantage lessons.
Golden rule: to avoid damaging your engine, never advance your boost lever further than your throttle. Again, this is not as bad as it sounds, because at typical medium to high altitudes where you will want to fight in the Jug, you will have already your throttle to the wall, and will be adjusting your manifold pressure with the boost lever. So, unless you are Arnold Schwarzenegger and shove the boost lever through the instrument panel, you won’t be able to advance the boost lever past the throttle. You can over boost your supercharger (18,250 or 22,000 RPM depending on the model), but that is usually a rare condition.
Video explaining this in greater detail. I have not tested it in the DCS. It does behave this way in IL2 GB.
…which is part of a series of P-47 related videos.
In typical combat, I have the prop and throttle pushed to the wall, intercooler on neutral, oil at between 50 and 70% open, cowl flaps closed, and regulating manifold pressure with the boost lever.
Trim is also important, and I find myself adjusting rudder trim more than with other aircraft. So have it mapped on my stick.
To be continued.
Or perhaps, that will raise all kind of alarms.
