I'm tinkering with the platform editor at the moment and have a few questions about the way fuel consumption works. As I understand it you set the range for particular loadouts. So what is the significance of the range figure in the aircraft description form. Is that just for reference? Also what is the significance of the fuel entry? Surely the fuel consumption etc. is modelled simply as range?

 

Thanks

Paragon

The base range figure shown in the Aircraft annex is the range (not combat radius) with full internal fuel, and clean (no armaments).

 

Tony might be better to explain the intricacies of the code's fuel consumption calculations, but the fuel load (in kg) certainly does play a part in determining range, and not just the above mentioned range figure. For example, increases in speed (military speed or afterburner) will burn up your fuel load and decrease your range dramatically.

OK I see, and having both fuel and range for an aircraft would give you the fuel consumption.

Another question: I can find published (open source) values for cruise speed and/or max speed for various aircraft, is there a formula for calculating/estimating the speeds at different altitudes? Any guidance would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

Paragon

The range figure for the aircraft itself is used in two cases:

1. The platform display (information only)

2. If the aircraft has no loadouts (in which case I wouldn't be surprised if the game crashed so probably a non-entity)

 

The internal fuel figure is only used in the Jettison weapons and extra fuel procedure and that code is not active in HCE (though it may become active some time in the future, I don't know).

The internal fuel figure is only used in the Jettison weapons and extra fuel procedure and that code is not active in HCE (though it may become active some time in the future, I don't know).

 

Well, there ya go, you learn something new everyday. (Well, I was probably told that sometime previously, but I didn't learn it too well, huh).