Picture a P-47 moments after takeoff, engine roaring, with a full load of fuel + drop tanks, but no bomb load. Beautiful site isn’t it [:D]
Now do you think his flaps would be fully extended, partially extended, or not extended at all?
Asking because I’m going to try and build the P-47 Razorback I just started in a “just lifted off” configuration. Wheels coming up, flaps in the correct position, etc. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I already placed the flaps in the fully extended position before I decided on this grand plan.
I’m no expert on that particular plane but i would be willing to bet that they would be extended. I would also think it would depend on the length of the runway. With a full load on a short runway im fairly certain they would take off with flaps extended.
That’s what I was hoping to hear, but on another forum a guy gave some excerpts from the P-47 flight manual -
"For take off, it says that trim tabs should be set for take-off 1/4 inch forward of the white mark, mixture “Auto-Rich”, propeller at “Max.RPM”, propeller switches to “ON” and “Automatic”, fuel selector to “Main Tank”, the flaps up(Handle must be in “Up” position, Cowl flaps “open”, tail wheel locked.”
He says it also goes on to say that takeoff may be improved with half flaps. Maybe I can pretend mine are half instead of full [:)]
When I was reading the manual excerpts I also remembered that I used the ‘closed’ cowl flap insert. I don’t know if I can correct that or not. Again – I can always just pretend [:D]
My feeling is whats said in the manual isnt always the real life practice. Every single plane im sure had its own personality just like diffent cars of the same model. I’m sure there was more than one occasion where a P-47 took off with full flaps and a closed cowl. For somebody to say that your model is “wrong” because of those to things would be rediculous. As nobody for certain can say that a P-47 never took off with full flaps.
just my [2c]
Steve
No, no, don’t misunderstand my post. No one is saying my model would be wrong, just providing info for me to consider - and believe me I need all the info and imput I can get, so keep it coming. [:)]
I don’t have the Thunderbolt Pilot’s Notes, but every one, that I do have, says that normal flap position, for take-off, is 0, with maybe 20-30% for a short run. The Hellcat notes tell you to pre-adjust the elevator trim, if you use flaps, since aircraft tend to go nose-down, as soon as flaps are selected. My guess is that you can have some flap, for your model, but not fully down.
Be it a Hellcat or any flap equipped fixed wing aircraft… if you have an unlimited amount of hard surfaced runway available, Zero - 10 degrees flaps are used. If you have a limited amount of runway, or soft surface (rough) take-off area, or if you had obsticles on the far end, you would perform “Short-Field” take-off’s at 20-30 degrees flaps. 40 degree maximum take-off’s can be done on standard configured aircraft, but you’d better not do it in gusty conditions because you’ll be on the ragged edge (very close to stall-speed) there for a while until you can get enough airspeed/altitude built up to start retracting them. A 40 degree flap take-off would only be attempted in very extreme/narrow-margin type conditions… (and even then it would be pushing it, especially if he’s “Heavy”) Each aircraft has a “Performance Chart” that details their minimum safe operating envelope, for reference.
The exception are STOL aircraft… where they normally use 40 degrees flaps for a maximum performance take-offs.
Thanks for the info frank. I knew you would be close to stall speed until you would be able to start retracting them. However, I never even thought about it being gusty. I was hoping somebody with more insight than me would be able to come in and teach us all something.
I’m the one who posted excerpts from the training manual. I agree with “oldhooker” about runway and weather conditions.The manual I used didn’t have any performacne charts in it. I don’t think anyone is going to point to the model and loudly chastise the builder on having the flaps fully extended. It’s a hobby, let’s have fun!
Picture this - the plane sitting on a transparent three point base, poised 60 degrees nose up, rolling a degree or 3 to the right with one gear 50% up, the other 75% up and flaps full down. Might fall out of the sky in real life, but would look pretty damn hot sittin’ on my shelf I betcha! [tup]
… you can just about imagine that the Hellcat was shot up on a morning mission and had to do a forced landing on a road somewhere on Truk… after fixing the leak created by a Zero’s bullet, the pilot see’s dust from approaching Japanese vehicles… he knows it’s now or never; “I think I have just about enough room to make it!”
Now he’s in the middle of the most important maximum performance take-off he’s ever done in his life! ! [;)]
Here’s to the Hellcats! [#toast]
Frank
Oh yeah… speaking of “Short Field” take-off’s…[;)]