Props are wings too
Chatted with GH today about props, he has been working on these with his 109. I tinkered with props a lot but usually in a manner that was more learning than outright looking for bugs. I have long known that speeds at high alt, from my builds at least, are greater than they should be. I initially looked into props as the source but I could never prove a link to this phenomenon and the TW prop code. GH has started applying a bit of logic to the issue and has had some success with the 109s by placing the zero alpha reference = 0. The basic theory is to minimize the errors of zero alpha by placing it as 0. Then moving max and min alphas to preserve the same lift characteristics as the original. eg. max = 10, zero = -3, min = -10; would become; max = 13, zero = 0, min = -7.
I’ll trial this with my TR planes and see if I get the same pleasing results, I am hopeful at the very least it does minimize any errors.
I also did some thinking myself about the gyro effect in 0.68a that I trailed a few years ago, the effect seemed over done, and although I was assured it was correct, I was not convinced. Well, it may have been correct mathematically, but not in end results vs RL IMHO. I think the TW engine is using the flat disk area of a prop and applying the total mass evenly to calculate the centrifugal loads for gyro effects. However; a prop is not equal in weight distribution, it has a lot more of its mass towards the center of the prop than the tips. This could be why the trials I flew seemed to over amplify they gyro effects, worth investigation at the very least.
Doc 9 has offered to take a look at the older AC and fix some of the outstanding 3D issues. He also took charge of the old Ki67 files and will be working on getting this plane up and away. It’s good to see interest growing in improving TRs aging 3D, thanks Doc.
Akitoshi is translating some files for the B5N, i’ll hear back from him soon. I have trailed the washout and incidence changes and it seems much nicer now, although I’m not 100% happy it gets better with each refinement.
But the winner of the day is GHs prop theories, which I’ll tinker with next.
