ME 262-can't get to high speed

[fjoleson]

I have mastered some aspects of the ME 262. However, I can't seem to get the speed much over 400 KPH even with the throttle at 100% and the plane trimmed. It seems that for the jet to be really effective against P51s and Tempests it needs to be flying over 500 KPH. I thought I saw a "boost" setting that might be available by pressing letter "R", but that didn't seem to help. Any advice on how to get the speed closer to 500 KPH ? Thanks.

[Gamer Oswald Mosley]

Are you climbing or just flying in a Straight line ?

[fjoleson]

Even flying in a straight line, I can't get much above 400 KPH.

[[AD] super-truite]

acceleration is really bad, so you need to fly in a straight line for a while to get to max speed. Also, when high, you can dive to reach quickly the top speed. Even a p51 with full energy will not be able to follow in this case

[Gamer Oswald Mosley]

as said above it really can only be the inadequate acceleration
which can be circumvented by just climbing and then making a steep dive but don't pull too many negative G's else your Engines will Cut out

[fjoleson]

Thanks. I paid closer attention to my climb rate. It did seem that I needed to fly without climbing for about 20 Kilometres before I could get up to about 500 kph. I also agree that diving helps get the speed above 500 kph. To that extent I think the flight plan shown in the ME 262 Bodenplatte Mission episode is a bit misleading. It made me think I should be able to be at 570 kph shortly after take off. Thanks for your advice.

[Shawn]

I have very limited stick time in a 262, but I know that historically the turbines were veeery delicate. Metallurgy was not anywhere near where it is today, after all.

As a result, rapid movements on the throttle could cause the turbines to disintegrate on those early jet engines.

As a comparison, starting up a tempest requires moving mix to 'start' and advancing the throttle, then hitting start. In real life, trying to start that engine with the throttle advanced beyond 10% could destroy the engine, but in game, you can push it to the stops and the game has a limiter to stop you from blowing it up. The throttle is limited to 10% while fuel mix is at 'start'.

So, I expect that the 262 may have a governor on the throttle to simulate the limits of throttle movement to keep the model a bit more user friendly than blowing up the engines from moving the throttle too fast.

[ginger-welsh]

Originally posted by fjoleson:

Thanks. I paid closer attention to my climb rate. It did seem that I needed to fly without climbing for about 20 Kilometres before I could get up to about 500 kph. I also agree that diving helps get the speed above 500 kph. To that extent I think the flight plan shown in the ME 262 Bodenplatte Mission episode is a bit misleading. It made me think I should be able to be at 570 kph shortly after take off. Thanks for your advice.

Take off from runway with full fuel and no mods, I managed 846 kph TAS at 300 mtr and 865 at 3000 mtr.

More info is required to see what you are doing wrong.

..

[fjoleson]

With respect to getting to 846 kph, I was never able to get much above 570 kph even after flying level for 20 KM. I am using alot of automatic motor control pre sets under the realism category to prevent blowing myself up. It could be they are artificially limiting my top speed in the name of safety. Thanks for the information.

[fjoleson]

In paying closer attention to the top speeds I can attain, In a dive of about 500 meters (3500-3000 KM), I can get up to 700 kph. Of the ME 262 videos available on YouTube, I found very few of them show the altitude and speed while in flight. I agree that if you handle the ME 262 strategically you can keep the speed very high (above 500 kph) in a dog fight. But you have to pay close attention to your maneuvering. I think I have improved my piloting technique based on your feedback. Thanks.