BLENHEIM IV

GUIDE BY CHUCK

1 (Unit) SPITFIRE HURRICANE BLENHEIM TIGER MOTH BF.109 BF.110 JU-87B-2 JU-88 HE-111 G.50 BR.20M Mk Ia 100 oct Mk IA Rotol 100oct Mk IV DH.82 E-4 C-7 STUKA A-1 H-2 SERIE II TEMPERATURES Water Rad Min Deg C 60 60 - - 40 60 38 40 38 - - Max 115 115 100 90 95 90 95 Oil Rad (OUTBOUND) Min Deg C 40 40 40 - 40 40 30 40 35 50 50 Max 95 95 85 105 85 95 80 95 90 90 Cylinder Head Temp Min Deg C - - 100 ------140 140 Max 235 240 240 ENGINE SETTINGS Takeoff RPM RPM 3000 3000 2600 FINE 2350 2400 2400 2300 2400 2400 2520 2200 Takeoff Manifold Pressure UK: PSI +6 +6 +9 BCO ON See 1.3 1.3 1.35 1.35 1.35 890 820 BCO ON GER: ATA ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge • BLABLALBLABClimb RPM RPM 2700 2700 2400 COARSE 2100 2300 2300 2300 2300 2300 2400 2100 30 min MAX 30 min MAX 30 min MAX 30 min MAX 30 min MAX 30 min MAX 30 min MAX Climb Manifold Pressure UK: PSI +6 +6 +5 See 1.23 1.2 1.15 1.15 1.15 700 740 GER: ATA ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge Normal Operation/Cruise RPM 2700 2600 2400 COARSE 2000 2200 2200 2200 2100 2200 2100 2100 RPM Normal Operation/Cruise UK: PSI +3 +4 +3.5 See 1.15 1.15 1.1 1.1 1.10 590 670 GER: ATA Manifold Pressure ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge Combat RPM RPM 2800 2800 2400 COARSE 2100 2400 2400 2300 2300 2300 2400 2100 Combat Manifold Pressure UK: PSI +6 +6 +5 See 1.3 1.3 1.15 1.15 1.15 700 740 GER: ATA ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge 5 min MAX 5 min MAX Emergency Power/ Boost RPM 2850 2850 2600 COARSE 2350 2500 2400 2300 2400 2400 2520 2200 RPM @ km 5 min MAX 5 min MAX 5 min MAX 1 min MAX 5 min MAX 1 min MAX 1 min MAX 1 min MAX 3 min MAX 5 min MAX

Emergency Power / Boost Manifold UK: PSI +12 BCO ON +12 BCO ON +9 BCO ON See 1.40 1.3 1.35 1.35 1.35 890 820 BCO ON GER: ATA Pressure @ Sea Level ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge 1 min MAX 5 min MAX 1 min max 1 min max 1 min max 3 min max 5 min MAX Stage 1 UK: ft ------0 0 0 - - Operation Altitude GER: M 1500 1220 1220 Supercharger Stage 2 UK: ft ------1500+ 1220+ 1220+ - - GER: M (AUTO/MAN MODES) Operation Altitude ITA: M Landing Approach RPM RPM 3000 3000 2400 As required 2300 2300 2000 2100 2300 2400 2200 Landing Approach Manifold UK: PSI As required As required As required See As required As required As required As required As required As required As required GER: ATA Pressure ITA: mm HG RPM Gauge Notes Use “Rich” mixture for normal Boost Cut-Out Min Oil Press: No Abrupt Eng. very Eng. very Boost Cut-Out operation. Use “Lean” mixture for fuel Override (BCO) 35 psi Throttling sensitive to sensitive to Override (BCO) conservation for RPM under 2600 & during takeoff Max Oil Press: ata/rpm during takeoff boost @ +1 or lower. often required 45 psi ata/rpm often required

PERFORMANCE SHEET PERFORMANCE AIRSPEEDS Takeoff – Rotation 120 120 110 55 180 190 170 185 150 170 175 Max Dive Speed UK: mph 420 390 260 160 750 620 720 675 600 410 600 Optimal Climb Speed 165 175 135 66 240 270 215 250 240 240 210 Landing – Approach GER/ITA: 160 160 140 55 200 220 170 200 200 175 2 175 km/h Landing – Touchdown 90 90 85 50 160 180 150 180 140 160 160 TABLE OF CONTENT – BLENHEIM IV

• PART 1: AIRCRAFT HISTORY • PART 2: AIRCRAFT VARIANTS • PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION • PART 4: THE CONTROLS • PART 5: WEAPONS AND ARMAMENT • PART 6: TAKEOFF • PART 7: LANDING • PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT • PART 9: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE • PART 10: P-8 COMPASS TUTORIAL

• PART 11: BOMBING TUTORIAL 3 PART 1: AIRCRAFT HISTORY in daylight Mark gun retractable metal the availability range World extensively the bomber the Designed the Bristol Bristol turret first early War IV and bombing aircraft . Aeroplane variant and of stages It by landing in British stressed Blenheim was the night the variable Frank role, adapted Beaufighter of early designed was gear, aircraft the - Company skin fighter, suffering - pitch war Barnwell unsuccessful days was as flaps, . . an propellers to and a of It that pending many construction, interim British was the a have 4 in was built powered Second one losses in . 1935 long used light The the all by its of - - , PART 1: AIRCRAFT HISTORY next Blenheim Just day, one Blenheims minute IV of 139 after Squadron made Britain's the took first formal Bomber off to declaration fly Command the RAF's of war first attack sortie against by bombing of Germany the war, enemy a took photo warships effect - reconnaissance on . September operation 3 , 1939 5 . The , a PART 1: AIRCRAFT HISTORY 5 sustainable took during 12 the their Squadron Commander under daylight Cologne attack level audacious 2006 described The amongst December accorded The % . Goldenberg of action Blenheim part, targets bombing against the the the as . the raid The the which by RAF 1940 raid, on and loss Blenheims Blenheims the command the (Fortuna Nichol publicity 12 raid . power units by raid, , Power The 22 was Daily both rate August dangerous % was 54 "RAF's Blenheims operated a far stations of of of during Telegraph of Station) . Power large a Blenheims those were above 1941 less of No the low . - - scale daylight Wing most fighter level near than low was that and throughout 114 lost the but hit in - squadrons hours the and battle . at The night of Blenheim . Britain, Some units of often these raided taking missions German heavy produced casualties, occupied an airfields almost although 100 throughout they % casualty were July never rate to 6 PART 1: AIRCRAFT HISTORY sufficient Blenheim times issues developing equipment, the The premier Blenheim were were over represented all eight medium the complex the in paid - rationale play gun next the day — : fighters few was price among firepower, bomber for years a for capable compromise pressing a being host to of bomb be the of conceived of ready ahead time other load, destroying : it . for The was concerns weight, with a in war tension what a them lightly period in . range, was In 1939 : between these the armed of available . rapid production end, issues day urgent the development to sort bombers were produce volume need of certainly medium to which in and in expand quantity, 1937 recognised bomber production saw , with in it 7 numbers arrive all modern that . while lead The the as PART 2: AIRCRAFT VARIANTS Notes & Peculiarities Top Speed @ Sea Level Pressure Landing Approach Manifold Landing Approach RPM Manifold Pressure @ Sea Level Emergency Power / Boost RPM @ km Emergency Power/ Boost CombatManifold Pressure CombatRPM Manifold Pressure Normal Operation/Cruise RPM Normal Operation/Cruise ManifoldClimb Pressure RPM Climb Takeoff Manifold Pressure Takeoff RPM Engine & Fuel grade Cylinder Head Temp Min RadOil (OUTBOUND) Min Max Max ENGINE SETTINGS & PROPERTIESENGINESETTINGS GER MPH UK: mm ITA: HG GER: ATA UK: RPM mm ITA: HG GER: ATA UK: RPM mm ITA: HG GER: ATA UK: RPM mm ITA: HG GER: ATA UK: RPM mm ITA: HG GER: ATA UK: RPM mm ITA: HG GER: ATA PSI UK: RPM Deg Deg (Unit) - PSI PSI PSI PSI PSI ITA: km/h ITA: C C TEMPERATURES Pitch' governor maximum Fit Mercury XV MK IV (BOMBER) with 2600 COARSE 2600 COARSE 2400 COARSE 2400 COARSE 2400 BLENHEIM or +9 BCO+9 +9 BCO ON +9 5 min min MAX 5 2600 FINE 2600 'Coarse . a The +3.5 - 266 235 100 RPMs Hamilton +5 +5 85 40 100 octane fuel octane 100 - - - two ON Pitch' are settings Standard not . restricted available Mercury XV MK IVF (FIGHTER) Two 2600 COARSE 2600 COARSE 2400 COARSE 2400 COARSE 2400 BLENHEIM +9 BCO+9 +9 BCO ON +9 5 min min MAX 5 2600 FINE 2600 Speed by are +3.5 - 266 235 100 +5 +5 40 85 100 octane fuel octane 100 the - - either - ON , propeller 'Fine BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIMMk IVF FIGHTER FIGHTER VARIANT BLENHEIMMk IV 8 PART 2: AIRCRAFT VARIANTS 9 PART 2: AIRCRAFT VARIANTS pitch Hamilton propellers used mechanism The propeller props on - the Standard, . were is Blenheim, installed used produced . after The on mainly Bristol Hamilton your by during De aircraft failed Standard Havilland the to means produce Battle two under that - of pitch its a Britain own specific license props variable . These were from prop have (see always that without touch With operate system's propeller propeller propellers need reverse set around propeller A controllable to adjusts paragraph a - the negative down, of nearly their stays the in thrust changing to blades efficiency exception is are its different pilot's a long the the constant the type most values, used for - above) pitch don't axis blades' same pitch . of intervention braking the Especially economical of in thrust propeller to . the efficiency stall, propeller A propeller going direction is change is pitch propeller reversible called levels or usually hence . into with going so for A their - over range driven a of and propeller (CPP) that with blades reverse cruising, degrading constant propeller controlled shaft pitch a backwards air range controllable of the aircraft speeds . that or rotational revolutions If for with rotational the the speed of can variable the can braking automatically airspeeds to pitch 10 a engine without so also propulsion be adapt controller pitch propeller speeds that . rotated can create speed - pitch Such after can can the the the . be . PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION CREW CREW MEMBERS BOMBARDIER - NAVIGATOR PILOT DORSAL GUNNER 11 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PILOT 12 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PILOT MIXTURE THROTTLE INDICATOR FLAPS INDICATOR UNDERCARRIAGE GEARLANDING / 13 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PILOT OUTER TANKS: OUTER FWD INNER TANKS: AFT SELECTOR GAUGECONTENTSFUEL OUTER TANKS: OUTER 94gal EACH INNER TANKS:gal 140 EACH GAUGE(TOTAL:FUEL gal)468 FUEL GAUGE PORT/LEFT STARBOARD/RIGHT FUEL GAUGE the Fuel 300 This for fairly you consume setting With ones) without enough 60 maximum With tanks tanks The about “BOMBING % miles, are means planning Blenheim . . Full reasonable a (which of (approx to going having full approx 2 Rich + or fuel . completely 3 5 that . 5 about hours bomb are will at (strong) PSI . load TUTORIAL” has to . you 240 280 assumption), 112 be filled and at use 480 you 4 have load further mph MAX gals/hour gal, fuel fill a mixture km fuel first) can RPM a your ( section . in Takeoff 1000 so tanks range carry for elaborated level and of . you inner for just 2400 the : Assuming 14 lbs), . of is 2 flight 2 Weight a can about about about boost outer outer tanks inner , you the fly (a in . PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION CARBURETTORHEAT LEVERS BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PILOT (USED TO(USEDENGINES SHUT DOWN) SLOWCUT RUNNING - OUT BTNSOUT FINE/COARSE PROPELLORPITCH COCKPIT FLOOD LIGHTSFLOODCOCKPIT 15 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV BLENHEIMMk IV AND LANDING WINGMAN COMPLETELY USE HAND PUMP NOT PILOT WHEN COMPLETELY GEAR TELLS . LANDING THIS IS YOU IS NOT USED DEPLOYED THAT GEAR COMPLETELY IN HE FAILS CASES . SEES TO WHEN THAT RETRACTED LANDING GEARLANDING LEVER RETRACT YOUR YOUR CORRECT HYDRAULIC ARE DOWN DOWN NOTE FLAPS CONTROL IN : . FLAPS POSITION, IN COWLINGFLAP SHUTTER THE “NEUTRAL” REAL PUMPS DESIRED USE LIFE, AND HYDRAULIC IF POSITION TRIMRUDDER WHEEL YOU YOU RETURN POSITION WOULD KEEP . POWER THE . YOUR OBVIOUSLY, OPERATE LEVER . YOU FLAPS IN FLAPS HAVE THE IN YOU “NEUTRAL” THE BY THREE WILL HOLDING “UP” SETTINGS SIMPLY POSITION POSITION THE WEAR : LEVER UP, INSTEAD ONCE NEUTRAL IN DOWN THE THE OF UP ELEVATORTRIM WHEEL FLAPS YOUR AND THE OR 16 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PILOT TEMPERATURE(DEG C) CYLINDERHEAD FROM SET INNER VALVE, RUNS WHAT UNLESS INBOARD GET FOR TIME TAKE THIS 2 CROSSFEED VALVE POSITIONS TO EXAMPLE TO VALVE . FUEL OUT BOTH HAPPENS TANKS “OPEN/ON” THE YOU A TANK OF POINT FROM IS THE LEFT WANT : : USED ARE FUEL ON/OFF IF IS RIGHT YOU ENGINE (OUTBOARD FUEL WHERE EMPTY YOUR TO IN TO WILL OFF/INNER/OUTERTANKS 3 POSITIONS: FUEL COCK(PORT= RED) HAVE CASE CONSUME GO AND TANKS OFF/INNER/OUTERTANKS 3 POSITIONS: FUEL COCKGREEN) (STBD = LEFT . ALLOW WILL WHY? YOU FOR OF THE A ENGINE FUEL FROM FUEL VERY KEEP TANKS ARE LEFT . BECAUSE THE IF LEAK LEAK YOU OUT LONG WING RUNNING BOTH LEFT COUGHS ARE ON TO OPEN OF THE ENGINE FLIGHTS) TANKS! WINGS GET THE GENERALLY FUEL AND CROSSFEED EVEN YOUR THE LEFT TO AT … ON DIES ENGINES IF GENERALLY CROSSFEED WING TAKE THE 17 THE THE SINCE EMPTY VALVE SAME FUEL AND LEFT LEFT TO IT PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV “POUNDSOF BOOST”) (PSI,OFTEN REFERRED TO AS MANIFOLD / BOOST PRESSURE PILOT BOTTOM SETS KNOB: QFE FT LONG NEEDLE: 1000 FT 10,000 SHORT NEEDLE: ALTIMETER (DEG C) OIL RADIATOR TEMPERATURE (x10 MPH) (x10 AIRSPEEDINDICATOR INDICATOR SIDESLIP TURN & BANK (PSI) OIL PRESSURE HORIZON ARTIFICIAL (X100 RPM) TACHOMETER OVERRIDE BOOST CUT (1000FT/MIN) INDICATOR CLIMB RATE - OUT EXTINGUISHERS FIRE 18 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV COURSE SETTER P - 8 MAGNETIC COMPASS& PILOT (NOT FUNCTIONAL) NAVIGATION LIGHTS GYRO SETTER DIRECTIONAL GYRO DIRECTIONAL MAGNETOS (NOT FUNCTIONAL) OXYGEN DELIVERY (NOT FUNCTIONAL) OXYGEN REGULATORSWITCH PRESSURE(PSI) PNEUMATIC (NOT FUNCTIONAL) OXYGEN SUPPLY INDICATOR RUDDER TRIM INDICATOR TRIM 19 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BOMBARDIER BLENHEIM Mk IV GYRO DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR AIRSPEED BUTTON RELEASE BOMB ALTIMETER MODES:SALVO OR SINGLE TWOBOMB DISTRIBUTION 20 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BOMBER VARIANT BOMBARDIER BLENHEIM Mk IV BLENHEIM Mk IV BOMBSIGHT BOMBSIGHT ALTITUDE SETTER CORRECTION BOMBSIGHT WIND AIRSPEED SETTER BOMBSIGHT 21 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION ------DORSALGUNNER CONTROLS MOVE MOVE MOUNT LEFT: DORSAL GUNNER TAKE CONTROL CONTROL TAKE OF GUN (TOGGLE INDEPENDENT MODE): GIVEGUNNER CONTROL AI: TO MANNEDCHANGE POSITION: SWITCH GUNNER/BOMBARDIER POSITION: FIRE WEAPON: LEAN TO GUNSIGHT: FIRING POSITION: CRUISE POSITION: MOVE MOUNT RIGHT: LEFT LEFT MOUSEBUTTON CUSTOM KEY CUSTOM O CUSTOM KEY LEFT LEFT KEYBD ARROW RIGHT KEYBD RIGHT ARROW L_SHIFT_C L_ALT+F2 C F10 22 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION • • • NOTES on multiplayer Any upper turret other mode “CRUISE/PARKED” Your control gunner you Your the switcher turret gunner hand, turret forward is to “flag” of will primarily get it . or . not is . They To can a to has other powered fuselage better take give your call just used 2 position back control air out gunner positions view need . to by Your crew fighters the . generate the angle In of to position AI gunner position : this the double left control CRUISE . if It gun mode, you engine is less will and - . useful click (like of In have only drag and switched other your the . This on the your to fire gunner and FIRING turret, the words, mode track bombardier) when in consume back available - game . cannot you targets allows your During the to should chat your turret gunner less fire slot you or can “CRUISE” POSITION aircraft info pilot examine power use his in is to be will in TURRET IN window multiplayer use gun the seat, manned “FIRING” . not cold “FIRING” your “L_ALT+F nor damage it fire is enabled move gun start, by possible position unless once other position, on 2 and ” his . . you the they the However, rotate turret that . players wings start AI clicked on the . takes your This the “FIRING” “FIRING” POSITION or AI in in if TURRET IN 23 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION BADLESS= AIRFLOW TOOF ENGINE OVERHEAT RISKENGINE, HIGH COOL THE LESSDRAG,SPEED= GOOD MORE COWLINGENGINE “LOUVRES”) FLAPSCLOSED CALLED(ALSO BAD = MORE DRAG,LESS BADMORE = SPEED AIRFLOW MORE = GOOD TOENGINE THE COOL “LOUVRES”) COWLINGENGINE FLAPSOPEN CALLED(ALSO 24 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION CRITICAL WING SPARSWING CABLES CONTROL COMPONENTS MACHINE GUN .303 BROWNING TURRET DORSAL FUEL TANKS 25 PART 3: AIRCRAFT & COCKPIT FAMILIARIZATION HOW TO RECOGNIZE A TAIL NUMBER 26 PART 4: CONTROLS coursesetter Course autopilot Courseautopilot Next Manned Position (Cyclesthrough air View View View cockpit primary illuminationtoggle ChocksWheel DESCRIPTION Field of View of Field (allows View+ Field of you to zoom out) Trim controls(elevator and rudder) directional controls(ailerons, elevators, rudder)and selectedtoggle engine (ignition) directional gyro directional gyro coursesetter - - - position #3 (rear gunner) optional(rear#3 gunner) position (bombardier)#2 position Position(pilot)#1 – - - decrease increase (allowsyouto zoomin) - - – – decrease increase Next Mode PreviousMode BRISTOLBLENHEIMMARKS) (ALL crew) Joystickhat switch axes JoystickPedal& Rudder bydefault“I” NUMPAD(CUSTOM)* NUMPAD/ (CUSTOM) NUMPAD NUMPAD(CUSTOM)+ S A C L_ALT+3 L_ALT+2 L_ALT+1 MAPPEDTO - (CUSTOM) ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL CLICKABLE CLICKABLE ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL CLICKABLE ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL / NON IN COCKPITIN COCKPITIN COCKPITIN - ESSENTIAL 27 PART 4: CONTROLS take control of your gun Toggle Independent Mode (allows you to cursormouse use/hide and # Fuel Cock bail out Wheelbrakes Toggle undercarriage () decreasepropellerpitch increasepropeller pitch radiatorclose radiatoropen decreasemixture increasemixture canopy/hatchtoggle boostcut throttle dropordnance(bomb) fireguns lean to DESCRIPTION gunsight - off cut (boost 1, 2, 3 2,1, ) - out override)out BRISTOLBLENHEIMMARKS) (ALL F10 keyboardotherwise. secondthrottle. Usually setto ArrowkeyboardDown Up Arrowkeyboard Throttleaxis B JoystickTrigger Gun MAPPEDTO Axis Axis for Setto ESSENTIAL CLICKABLE ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL NON NON ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL / NON - - ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL IN COCKPITIN - ESSENTIAL 28 PART 4: CONTROLS all engines select allengines #2 select engine #1 select engine bombsight forcrosswind) Adjust Bombsight leftRight / (adjusts Bombsight velocity/ + Bombsight + / altitude nextdistributor bomb (Salvo/Single) mode previous distributorbomb mode DESCRIPTION Open/Close Bomb BayBomb Door Open/Close Carburettor# 2 / # 1Heat (GiveExternal ViewTurret Turret Turret Turret Turret – – – – Firing Firing Position PositionCruise MoveMount Right MoveMount Left - - Gunner ControlGunner AI) to (Salvo/Single) BRISTOLBLENHEIM (ALLMARKS) MAPPEDTO N (CUSTOM)N L_ALT+F2 (CUSTOM) L_SHIFT+O O Right Arrowkeyboard Left Arrowkeyboard L_SHIFT+3 L_SHIFT+2 L_SHIFT+1 (CUSTOM) has an an has automatic closing system) NON NON ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL NON CLICKABLE CLICKABLE CLICKABLE CLICKABLE ESSENTIAL / NON - - - ESSENTIAL (bomb bay(bomb door ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL IN COCKPITIN COCKPITIN COCKPITIN COCKPITIN - ESSENTIAL 29 PART 4: CONTROLS • • “Left/Right key), in have lever In Unlike order mind adequate while on the that to your German brake, Wheel for that control mixture, the you for Brakes” bombers, German British column) need RPM axes to aircraft and the and hold while in Blenheim Italian your BRAKE LEVERBRAKE Manifold your you you controls) “Full aircraft, use give WHEEL IS BRAKINGWHEEL ONLYTHE RIGHT/STBD uses Pressure toe Wheel rudder . differential you brakes Brakes” settings use input (“Full this to braking key or braking steer Left/Right your (which instead your turn system is aircraft Wheel physically radius of toe (Full (WILL TURN RIGHT) TURN(WILL RUDDERRIGHT PUSHED . will Brakes” brakes Make Wheel mapped suffer sure . keys Brakes 30 . Keep as you or a The Blennie Fighter variant is armed with a rack of four .303 in Browning guns under its fuselage, a single .303 gun in its left wing and a .303 . Aiming with the fixed gunsight while using TrackIR is very difficult. Recommended way of aiming is to use tracers each 5-6 bullets and to correct after each short burst based on where the trail of bullets is going. Tracers are also very useful for turret gunners if they want to aim properly. My typical ammunition belt loadout is made of DeWilde Incendiary Rounds, Armour Piercing rounds and Incendiary/Tracer rounds. BLENHEIM Mk IVF

FIGHTER VARIANT

ARMAMENT PART 5: WEAPONS AND AND WEAPONS 5: PART

31 BLENHEIM Mk IV BOMBER VARIANT

The Blennie bomber variant is armed with a single .303 gun in its left ARMAMENT wing and a .303 gun turret. Aiming with the fixed gunsight while using TrackIR is very difficult and overall rather ineffective since .303 caliber is not very lethal in small firepower concentration. The recommended way of aiming is to use tracers each 5-6 bullets and to correct after each short burst based on where the trail of bullets is going. Tracers are also

very useful for turret gunners if they want to aim properly. My typical PART 5: WEAPONS AND AND WEAPONS 5: PART ammunition belt loadout is made of DeWilde Incendiary Rounds, Armour Piercing rounds and Incendiary/Tracer rounds. 32 PART 5: WEAPONS AND PARTARMAMENT 1: PLANNING on load needed Use board adequate in the fuel means Blenheim quantity bomb I can is ) and destroy and very fuel I small choose 2 loadout ships and 4 instead you X . Typically, 250 aircraftoverweight,isnot you or have will troublegetting offground. the missions typicallyBombing requireEnsure fuel. that30 % between20 and need of lb have troublegetting offground. the Ensure that aircraftoverweight,isnot you or will 4 bombs to . I Having maximize choose rather 4 20 bombs the than - 30 number % allows 2 fuel X 500 of ( for see lb targets more bombs BOMBING flexibility you . Why? can tutorial bomb and Simply gives . to For because know you instance, more how the BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV having options to current judge 2 . bombs bomb your PART 5: WEAPONS AND PARTARMAMENT 1: PLANNING Select Select proper fuse delay based on the type of bombing run you intend to do. • • bounce off your bounce target, recommendedisnot if youwhich go for precisionbombing. High require delaysecondsfuse of 11 toprevent your aircraftdamaging run. the bombing during missionsSkip (typically bombing forused attackinglowships),diveand bombing - altitude bombing fuse delayfuse ispreferablybombing altitude bombs might second,or else the 1 and set between0 Ensure correct isselected.bomb - levelraidsbombing BOMBER BOMBER VARIANT BLENHEIM Mk IV PART 5: WEAPONS AND ARMAMENT 35 PART 6: TAKEOFF 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. the NOTE sim • : Raise Rotation straight Gradually Set temperatures Perform Flaps Make hear Taxi Wait Ensure Select Repeat Select Engine Make Turn Engine Crack Set Select Ensure checking the fuel gauges (selected to INNERtanks). Click on both fuel cocks (Red and times 2 Green) to select innerfuel tanks. Make sure you have the proper fuel load by This . the settings Down Note Boost your to your both for up landing throttle sure sure angle BOTH Engine Engine ignition! cowling the cowling that : steps . . procedure With oil Slightly prop last is are Once Cut throttle engine magnetos – you your at runway temperature you mixture Fully engines straightforward, takeoff - 3 gear 110 . # # the pitch Out half flaps to are flaps 2 1 desire (press propeller push Raised ( ( shake Blenheim, 9 mph L_Shift L_Shift Override up an and . facing to but fully You is are checks for are . (I . inch the Compensate full set This . “I” set have or for and fully engine can is open fully to + + yellow Fully is by to fine forward prop same engine 2 1 you : reach ON NOT clear cough it but ) ) taxi fully Canopy default) raised, . . open . custom ( Down), . forward 100 need # pitch methodology since panels with 1 (“Clear rich at . . # ( ON for Try % the 100 2 set least to Closed, ) to . “Neutral” (by low the . mapped . engine to cycle to on flaps COARSE % prop!”) default real 40 keep flaps ) oil lift the and through is Flaps deg to temps the torque used runway means in to - your prop “Neutral” . life C it Adjust tail the L_Shift up, and is) for without throttle 3 . pitch Blenheim . that and start modes cowlings . the the This RPM + the wind landing to is 3 cylinder means ) any over fully - lock . for flaps to up have using fully 2400 flaps problem gear them FINE 10 stop procedure, you head a open, % right and max (undercarriage) variable . moving ( into 100 are temperature . landing aileron for Full If facing the % your . ) climb setting . This Fine UP gear the and throttle way, position . . prop it . (unlike right “Up”, rudder to has you reach pitch, is . direction can “Neutral” the set been pedals have at good Spitfire, to least idle, your for to and oil simplified 100 keep which takeoff your & flaps “Down” cylinder deg the deployed oil only . C . you aircraft . Up has head and will in to 2 OVERRIDE BOOST CUT 36 - OUT PART 7: LANDING 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. strike force Be Tap Yoke Touchdown pointed Cut you Deploy pitch Rads 1500 Start careful your slowed throttle fully . ft to your fully your . flaps FINE to brakes back the open approach aircraft not down at ( (down) 100 and . 85 end to until ( mph 100 to % of to overheat try ) 120 . and at you the nose % in to ) 140 mph a come runway and landing 3 keep over - point mph your or RPM to less . into your gear @ a landing brakes full set . approx a when stop nose prop prop . or . . 37 PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT by both 20700 engines diameter and developed engine Derived supercharger Mercury lifter engine unusual four installed The "poppet" and produced Mk Halifax which such larger probably The other . weighs by II's as valves . rods Bristol powered units of "sleeve Bristol . engine from They the bomber on of were valves number engines However, the best 825 the Airplane 51 the and . of 1 1675 and engines , the 1920 . per 065 5 hp different . and are companies manufactured smaller Blenheim the known inches valve" Mercury famous and a at valve had for ’s, h lbs under cylinder, four actuated . Bristol Company p 2 gear which . t , . he . 650 Lancaster a Hercules a - Mercury It versions Pegasus engined engines for - license Jupiter . IV engine levers driven single has radial RPM also had XV has by its an in is a . 38 PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT 39 PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT Cylinder Cylinder Head Temp (4) Min RadOil (3) Min • • • from You settings ENGINES” Always use once During • • • • • . can an in criticaltemperature. my oil before my cylinderheads reach a temphead gauges(4). Ioverheat usually oil rad gauges(3) rather than cylinderthe During flight,I usuallykeep aneye on the bombingrun (): SettingsEngine for Low Cowling flaps settings: prop The ( the from looking + The 100 a 5 remember . read info a mission, • • • • • • lbs/in while RPM in resulting % pitch the same 110 % throttle% 110 Cut (Boost cowling %flaps rad 45 / during % 100 takeoff & landing 50 during % 70+ combat during % 70 operationnormal window your Max = order at - Max 60 % over 60 % 20,000 fully 2 indicator info for (psi) ( TEMPERATURES the 5 the engine that ) . Deg Deg (Unit) as open) to . the RPM window . flight engine C C The throttle this the pilots ( settings . 1 is lead ) oil is shows affected - in cowlings Level High BLENHEIM one a ft to radiators usually % up MK IV MK during during cruise twin 235 100 . 85 40 from know - Out Override ON) The 2150 and used - engine by the calls from control - what change RPM Speed both can BLENHEIM gauges for : out MK IVF MK the . you be 235 100 settings 85 40 boost The for his your water approximated window must in cowling engine boost the pressure cowling they select cockpit radiators ( 2 settings or flaps ) should reads read “ALL flap and by or is 1 . 3 4 5 40 2 PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT power the could unofficial is Although control, the valve directly case just to an The Boost easy be emergency rated supercharger Boost a of and so pull way without to malfunction, link boost by it 6 giving it see emergency control cut . of is 25 the and the hard psi, disabling power how damaging - would him British out try pilot was and override to the the for find setting, thus . hopefully capable power change handle the In override BCO ability a the references bit original did making boost engine could more but switch to not of to with get set was (but controller form, the originate become the . boost a any . altitude) on bit adapted (BCO) without throttle A system this, it boost more than pilot was an as in it . OVERRIDE BOOST CUT - OUT 41 PART 8: ENGINE MANAGEMENT CarburettorHeatControl CARBURETTOR HEAT • • • • takeoff + Set humidity 2 deg boost Set one recommend engine Access hot) metal The draws consists prevent powered in The 3 , 500 . 5 . ON air OFF carburettor exhaust C boost and automobile hot or ft to is and when , plate or are when of or drawn Carb when air OR light air landing) cold clear (or manifold a mapping temperature you into hard in Heat moveable you from heat weather around you during aircraft fly carburetor conditions the . fly Controls are at the is . to and a engine a at less . engine heat key flying system engines see, the flap is more than under for to icing of stove, 42 piston intake above which so start, (very used each each than + high . 3 15 to . It 5 a - . I PART 9: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE uSpZROuEd https • • Touchdown Landing Approach Landing Speed OptimalClimb MaxDive Speed Rotation Takeoff below) Checklist Aviation consult aircraft For overheat is A max recommended : //drive – – – more . climb 3 . NGN the . google your It or km/h GER/ITA: mph UK: is AIRSPEEDS 4 Regiment rate c information 2 0 a . engines nd com/open?id= JRNHJpYkk&authuser= engine fantastic . of Anything Guards 1000 . resource performance, - 1500 0 140 135 260 110 85 Operations B on Composite higher - ft either 0 /min (link will 43 PART 9: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE 44 PART 9: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE “BOMBING Fuel planning TUTORIAL” will be section further . elaborated in the 45 PART 9: AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE 46 P-8 COMPASS TUTORIAL

• Using the magnetic compass and the gyro is quite useful to know where you are going. • The gyro indicator itself does not indicate your heading. You need to set it manually in order to translate what the magnetic compass is telling you. You must set up your magnetic compass first by adjusting the “course setter” instrument on top of it, and once you can read your heading from your compass, THEN you set your gyro to reflect the compass’ reading. Sounds complicated? It’s not. We will see why in the next slide. • Typically, you set your compass and gyro on the ground. It is not the kind of stuff you want to do when you are flying 20,000 ft over . • High-G manoeuvers can decalibrate your gyro and give you a wrong reading. Be aware that once you start a dogfight, your gyro can give you readings that don’t make sense. It’s normal: it is one of the real-life drawbacks of this navigation system. The same issue is also recurrent in today’s civilian acrobatic prop planes.

47 PART 10: COMPASS TUTORIAL COMPASS 10: PART HOW TO SET UP YOUR GYRO & COMPASS 1 1. The white T on your P-8 magnetic compass indicates magnetic North. You always use that as a reference. It is hard to see because of the control column hiding part of it. 2. Align the red N on the white T by clicking on the course setter until both yellow-ish bars are parallel with it the white T. You will obtain a resulting “course” from the course setter (which is the blue text that pops up on your screen). Keep that number in mind. In our case, the number is a heading of 271. However, in order to take into account the effects of magnetic declination, you need to add 10 degrees to get the geographic north. For now, consider that your current heading is 281 degrees. 3. Set your directional gyro compass by clicking on the rotary knob to reflect the corrected heading obtained on your magnetic compass. In our case, set the gyro to 281. You will see the blue numbers pop again. You can use them as a way to fine tune your gyro. Parallel lines 4. And that’s it! You will now be able to use your gyro compass to orient yourself. If your (must be gyro accumulates error after high-G manoeuvers, you can try to re-set it using steps 1 to 3. aligned with T)

White T facing the Red N

3 Magnetic 2 Compass Gyro heading Heading (271)

(281) 48 PART 10: COMPASS TUTORIAL COMPASS 10: PART About Magnetic Declination The direction in which a compass needle points is known as magnetic north. In general, this is not exactly the direction of the North Magnetic Pole (or of any other consistent location). Instead, the compass aligns itself to the local geomagnetic field, which varies in a complex manner over the Earth's surface, as well as over time. The local angular difference between magnetic north and true north is called the magnetic declination. Most map coordinate systems are based on true north, and magnetic declination is often shown on map legends so that the direction of true north can be determined from north as indicated by a compass. This is the reason why in Cliffs of Dover, the magnetic compass needs to be “adjusted” to take into account this magnetic declination of the magnetic North pole (which is actually modelled in the sim, which is pretty neat). In 1940, the magnetic declination required an adjustment of 10 degrees and 8 minutes. We round that to 10 deg.

The movement of Earth's north magnetic pole

across the Canadian arctic, 1831–2007.49 PART 10: COMPASS TUTORIAL COMPASS 10: PART BOMBING TUTORIAL - INTRO

• Bombing is one of the most complex and rewarding features of flight simulators. The bomber pilot has a thankless job, yet bombing is an art form in itself. • This tutorial will be for high-altitude bombing as it encompasses all aspects of bombing and navigation. • Bombers should work as a team. Not only with other bombers, but with fighter escorts as well to keep them alive.

TUTORIAL • The mind of a bomber pilot is a patient and organized one. If you fail to plan your mission properly, you certainly plan to fail and end up

in a smoldering pile of ashes. PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

50 BOMBING TUTORIAL - INTRO

• A bombing operation can be separated in 6 phases: 1. Planning the mission 2. Takeoff and assembly of bomber force 3. Rendezvous with fighter escorts 4. Fly to target 5. Bombing run 6. Return to Base

• We will explore phases 1, 4 and 5 together.

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

51 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION

• Before you even take off, you need to make sure you know the following: 1. Where am I? 2. Where am I going? 3. How much fuel do I need? 4. What am I doing? 5. How am I doing it? 6. What can help me?

7. What can kill me? TUTORIAL 8. How do I get home? • Once you have all that stuff figured out, THEN you can takeoff. PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART • The following example will show you a typical mission planning.

52 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING?

• Reading the bomber objectives always helps to find a high-priority target. • You can look at the bombing objectives in the mission briefing (can be accessed via aircraft selection menu or by right-clicking, opening the map, right-clicking on the map and choosing “Briefing”). • Le Havre will be our target for today and we will be spawning from

Shoreham. TUTORIAL

Read bomber objectives and pick your targets. For instance: Le Havre is located in grid AO05.9, which means it is located in the upper-right corner of the Alpha-Oscar 05 grid square.

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART .9 is the location in the square based on the referential of a numpad for the designated grid square (1 is lower left, 5 is center, 9 is upper right).

53 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING? • Good! We now have a target (Le Havre airfield), and we decided that we would spawn at Shoreham. Home Base • Now, it is time to figure out how we get there and drop them cabbage crates. We need a heading and a distance. • Open your map and select (left click) your Protractor tool to obtain your

heading to target. TUTORIAL

Target Left-Click on the

protractor icon. PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

While map is selected, open up your “Tools” menu (right click) and use your protractor to find the correct heading. 54 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING?

1) Click and hold left mouse button on Shoreham and drag a vertical line. Once line is parallel with the North, release mouse button. 2) Click and hold left mouse button on Shoreham and drag a line to Le Havre Airfield. Once line is crossing the center of the airfield icon, release mouse button. Step 1 Heading 3) A heading number should pop next to Shoreham. 169? Remember this number. In our case, we get 169 degrees. 4) In case your target is West (to the left) to your Step 2 home base, the number that pops up will not be your heading. The proper heading will be 360 minus the number that popped up. In our case, the TUTORIAL proper heading will be a 169 Geographic (map) Heading. 5) Since the heading we obtained on the map is geographic and not magnetic, the magnetic course

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART we will need to follow on our compasses is 169 + 10 = 179 deg. This is the heading we will follow on our magnetic compass. We added 10 degrees to take into account magnetic declination as shown in previous compass navigation tutorial. 55 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION WHERE AM I? WHERE AM I GOING?

• We now know our target: Le Havre. We must know how high it is to take into account target elevation when we will be bombing. • You can use the LOFTE tool available on ATAG: theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/utils/lotfe7.html • A tutorial on how to use this tool is available in Chuck’s Blenheim High Altitude Bomber Guide 2.0 available here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-uSpZROuEd3MDEwaDZXdmNSdnM&authuser=0 • One quicker way to do it is to get the airfield’s altitude directly from the list on the next page made by Ivank. • LOFTE’s values tend to vary from point to point: values you get from this tool are an approximation that must sometimes be taken with a grain of salt. TUTORIAL • Le Havre’s altitude in the table is 96 m (314 ft), while on the LOFTE tool it is 79 m (240 ft). • Because my example is recycled from a previous guide using the LOFTE tool to get the altitude, (and since I’m too lazy to bother changing it) we will use a target elevation of 79 m

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART for Le Havre.

56

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

57 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW MUCH FUEL DO I NEED?

• The heavier you are, the slower you are and the more MAX RANGE vulnerable you are. • The Blenheim has 4 fuel tanks: 2 inner • Calculating your required fuel is easy. tanks (which are filled first) and 2 outer • We know our max range for Max Takeoff weight (@ 60% tanks. With a full bomb load (1000 lbs), fuel) is about 300 miles. the maximum fuel load you can carry is about 60 % (approx. 280 gal, so just about • Use the “Map Tool Ruler” to get our target’s range. Le Havre is about 100 miles away from Shoreham. Since we enough to completely fill your inner tanks plan to return to base, we add another 100 miles. We can without having to use fuel for the outer add about 15 miles for loitering time, assembly and ones). rendezvous with fighters. We have a grand total of 215 miles. • With Full Rich (strong) mixture for a boost setting of +3.5 PSI and a RPM of 2400, you • To fly for 215 miles at 2400 RPM at 240 mph, we simply multiply our max takeoff fuel load (60 %) by the ratio of consume approx. 112 gals/hour. Assuming the distance we need to fly on the maximum range @ you are going at 240 mph in level flight (a max takeoff weight (300 miles): fairly reasonable assumption), you can fly • 60 % * 215 miles / 300 miles = 43 % fuel. That is what we for about 2.5 hours at MAX Takeoff Weight. need. This means that you have a range of about TUTORIAL 300 miles, or about 480 km.

Left click and drag from point A to point

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART B to get a distance.

58 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION WHAT AM I DOING?

• Now that we know where we are and where we are going and how much fuel we need, we need to know what we will be doing. • We will load up 4 X 250 lbs bombs with 1 sec fuse. See the Weapons and Armament section to know more. • Our bombing altitude will be 17,000 ft. We could go as high as 24,000 if we wanted to. • Why do we ask ourselves this question? Simply because the challenge of a bomber pilot is the sheer workload behind it. You are doing by yourself the task that took two dedicated guys or more to do. Therefore, our goal is to reduce the workload as much as possible by doing as much as we can on the ground so we can concentrate on what’s going on during the flight rather than prepare our instruments in a hurry. • In a bomber flight, generally half the guys do not know how to use a bomb sight: they simply drop their bombs on the bomber lead’s command. Keep in mind that having a bomber lead is not enough to have a proper mission: fighter interceptors always go for the bomber lead because odds are that he is the most experienced bomber pilot. Good bomber operations generally have a second or a third TUTORIAL leader to take No. 1’s place in case he gets shot down or runs into engine trouble. • If you have 9 guys flying for an hour to get to a target that are waiting on your command to drop their bombs, you better make sure that you know where you’re aiming… • Therefore, it is important to know at what speed and what altitude you plan to do your bomb run so

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART you can set up your bombsight in advance. I usually set my bombsight when I am on the ground. This way, you just need to make small adjustments when you get to target rather than set everything up in a hurry. • You will need your target elevation to set up your bombsight properly. 59 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW AM I DOING?

• Here is why you need to take into account target elevation in your bombsight: • Pressure altitude and Height are related to one another, but keep in mind that they are two completely different things. • Height is the vertical physical distance between your aircraft and the ground. Pilots often refer to height as “AGL” (Above Ground Level). • Pressure altitude is the altitude measured using a pressure datum reference. Pilots often refer to altitude as “AMSL” (Above Mean Sea Level). Pressure Altitude reading can vary based on meteorological conditions. • Bombsight height setting can be determined by simply reading the altimeter and substracting the target elevation (assuming the altimeter pressure altitude was set correctly TUTORIAL for the pressure conditions in Home Base). • The bombsight height, in our case will be our altimeter altitude (17,000 ft) minus the target elevation (240 ft). The bombsight height will have to be set at more or less 16,760 ft. Keep

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART in mind that the altitude can change due to many factors and that your bombsight height is AGL, and will always require you to substract target elevation to be accurate.

60 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW AM I DOING IT?

ALTITUDE: 17,000 ft AMSL ABOVE SEA LEVEL

The bombsight height, in our case will be our altimeter altitude (17,000 ft) minus the target elevation (240 ft). The bombsight height will have to be set BOMBSIGHT HEIGHT at more or less 16,760 ft. Keep in mind that the altitude can change due to 16,760 ft AGL many factors and that your bombsight height is AGL (above ground level), TUTORIAL and will always require you to substract target elevation to be accurate.

NOTE: the max bombsight altitude for the Blenheim IV is 20,000 ft. PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART TARGET ELEVATION: 240 ft LE HAVRE SHOREHAM ALTITUDE: 240 ft AMSL ALTITUDE: 0 ft AMSL ALTITUDE: 0 m AMSL 61 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW AM I DOING?

• Caution: our altitude and speed set on the bombsight will not be the values read on the altimeter and airspeed indicators. • We have already seen why the bombsight height must be the altitude value read on the altimeter minus the target elevation. • Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is the speed you read on your airspeed indicator. It is driven by your Pitot tube and a barometric static port. Air pressure varies with altitude (the higher you go, the less air there is). IAS is corrected for the surrounding air pressure but not for air density. • True Airspeed (TAS) is indicated airspeed corrected to take into account air TUTORIAL density (which, like we said, depends on your current altitude). • The bombsight requires a True Airspeed input, not an indicated airspeed. • Fortunately, there is an interpolation table available in the Cliffs of Dover PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART manual to help you get an approximation of TAS. We will see how to use this table in the next page.

62 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW AM I DOING? We will aim for an indicated airspeed (IAS) of 200 mph (read on the airspeed gauge) at an altitude of 16,760 ft.

1) Pick the appropriate row for IAS (200 mph) 2) Pick the appropriate columns for nearest altitudes (16,000 and 18,000 ft) 3) Take note of the TAS values in the table 255 mph and 263 mph) 4) Because the TAS values are close enough and that

TUTORIAL bombsight airspeed only goes into increments of 10, we can approximate the resulting TAS value to approx. an average value of . It is

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART 260 mph not the exact value, but in our case, it should work.

63 PART 10: BOMBING TUTORIAL 2. 1. WHICH IS WHATWHICH YOU READON YOUR INSTRUMENTS. NOTDO CONFUSE TAS IAS WITH BOMBSIGHTS ALL IN SIM USETRUETHE AIRSPEED (TAS). AFFECTED. OTHERAND THE INCORRECT. BOMB TRAJECTORYBE WILL PRESUME ONE FACTOR, ALTITUDEOR TAS, ISCORRECT HIGHER HIGHER THAN INPUTALTITUDE INPUT ALTITUDE TOO LOW, PLANEISFLYING THAN INPUT AIRSPEED INPUT TAS TOO LOW, PLANEIF FLYING FASTER – INDICATED AIRSPEED, TARGET 2. 1. FLYING LOWER THAN INPUT ALTITUDE INPUT ALTITUDE TOO HIGH, PLANE IS SLOWER THAN INPUTAIRSPEED INPUT TAS TOO HIGH, PLANEIF FLYING 64 BOMBING TUTORIAL – PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION HOW AM I DOING? Be smart: set up your bombsight in advance (set airspeed and altitude at which you want to bomb) while you are still on the ground. This will save you time and trouble. In our case, we will enter a bombsight airspeed of 260 mph and an altitude of 16,760 ft.

5

7

1. AIRSPEED INDICATOR TUTORIAL 4 (IAS) 2. ALTIMETER (AMSL) 3. DIRECTIONAL GYRO 4. BOMBSIGHT AIRSPEED 6 INPUT (TAS) PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART 1 2 5. BOMBSIGHT ALTITUDE 3 INPUT (AGL) 6. BOMB DISTRIBUTOR MODE (SALVO/SINGLE) 7. DROP BOMBS65 PART 11: BOMBING TUTORIAL WHAT CAN HELP ME OR KILL ME? HOW DO I GET HOME? BOMBING TUTORIAL • • HOW WHAT • • • In Give places Know our DO CAN fighter where case, when I GET HELP we escorts you your HOME? will ME are enemy simply a OR doing – rendezvous PHASE 1: PLANNING THE MISSION KILL patrol do your a ME? 180 routes flight point once plan are, so we . they where dropped can battles link our up bombs usually with you and take and head place protect back and you home avoid . 66 . these BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• Once we have taken off, we will follow a heading of 179 to Le Havre. • You can use the compass traditionally to fly there manually, but you can also use the auto-pilot. • The auto-pilot in the Blenheim is very similar to the one used in German bombers. • In order to use the auto-pilot and know where you are going, you will need to set up your magnetic compass and directional gyro

TUTORIAL differently than shown in the P-8 tutorial section. PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

67 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET • 79. • Set your course setter on your magnetic compass to a heading of 179. • Align your aircraft until the two parallel lines with the white T are facing the red N on your

TUTORIAL compass. Once the T and Correct heading the two // lines are parallel to each other,

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART you are on course.

White T facing the Red N 68 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• There are two auto-pilot modes: Course Mode and Mode 22. Make sure you have

mapped keys to cycle through these modes.

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

69 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• If you wish to control your aircraft while auto-pilot is engaged, you must do so by increasing or decreasing your directional gyro (make sure you have proper keys mapped first).

Note: decreasing gyro will make the aircraft steer to the right, increasing gyro will make it steer to the left. Plan your keys accordingly or you might

think your auto-pilot is drunk.

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

70 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• Course Mode is a mode where auto-pilot takes over rudder control to make your aircraft travel following a given heading. You still have control over ailerons and elevator. Course mode is generally used when climbing or descending. In this mode, climb rate is better controlled through elevator trim rather than pure elevator input. • Mode 22 (Straight n’ Level) is a mode where auto-pilot takes over rudder, elevator and aileron controls to make your aircraft travel following a given heading. You will have no control over any of your control surfaces. Mode 22 is used when cruising or when level-bombing as this mode will want to make you stay level at a given

heading. TUTORIAL

Note: Mode 22 will often make your aircraft go into a dive (-1000 ft/min approx) for approximately 1 minute. It is normal: the aircraft will try to gain speed in the PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART process. You should lose from 1000 to 2000 ft after Mode 22 is engaged. The climb rate will eventually stabilize to “0”. If you intend on bombing the target from 18000 ft, make sure you are 1000-2000 ft higher before you engage Mode 22. 71 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• The auto-pilot works in a peculiar way since it is derived from the german auto-pilot code: the auto-pilot will consult your directional gyro, read your current heading and automatically steer the aircraft towards a gyro heading of 0. This “0” is not true North: it is your job to increase of decrease the directional gyro to make sure that your aircraft will be going on course. Usually, we set the course setter to find true North, and then we adjust the gyro to the value read on the compass. In this case, we are doing the opposite.

If set at 0, your aircraft will be

going straight.

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

72 BOMBING TUTORIAL EXPLAINING THE AUTOPILOT PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

• Steps to set auto-pilot on a given course (179 in our case) 1. Fly the aircraft to make sure you are going into the correct heading 179 by consulting your magnetic compass (explained previously). Do not engage auto-pilot yet. 2. Once you are on course, increase or decrease your directional gyro to set it to 0. 3. Once gyro reads “0”, engage desired auto-pilot mode. The aircraft will behave differently based on the mode, but should continue going into your desired heading.

TUTORIAL 4. If your gyro does not indicate “0”, the auto-pilot will steer the aircraft until the gyro reads “0”. 5. You can make heading adjustments using your “increase/decrease gyro” keys mapped earlier. It gives you much better authority and PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART precision when making course corrections. Keep an eye on the magnetic compass to make appropriate course corrections.

73 BOMBING TUTORIAL PHASE 4: FLYING TO TARGET

BLENHEIM AUTOPILOT OPERATION TABLE STEP ACTION MAGNETIC COMPASS 1 SET A COURSE TO DESIRED HEADING USING THE COURSE SETTER

ALIGN AIRCRAFT WITH COURSE SETTER BY CONSULTING THE 2 MAGNETIC COMPASS (WHITE “T”).

WHEN AIRCRAFT IS ALIGNED WITH COURSE SETTER, SET

3 DIRECTIONAL GYRO TO “0” USING THE BOTTOM KNOB. TUTORIAL 4 ENGAGE DESIRED AUTOPILOT MODE (COURSE MODE OR MODE 22)

WHEN AUTOPILOT IS ENGAGED, STEER AIRCRAFT USING THE

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART 5 “AUTOPILOT RIGHT” OR “AUTOPILOT LEFT” CONTROLS FOR BIG CORRECTIONS. STEER AIRCRAFT USING THE “DIRECTIONAL GYRO INCREASE/DECREASE” CONTROLS FOR SMALL COURSE CORRECTIONS. DIRECTIONAL USING THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO IS USUALLY A BETTER WAY TO USE GYRO THE AUTOPILOT AS THE PILOT HAS BETTER CONTROL OVER HIS SHIP. 74 BOMBING TUTORIAL PHASE 5: BOMBING RUN

BOMBSIGHT BLENHEIM BOMBSIGHT OPERATION TABLE HIGH ALTITUDE LEVEL BOMBING STEP ACTION 1 ENGAGE AUTO-PILOT IN MODE 22 WHEN YOU HAVE SIGHT ON TARGET AND YOU ARE ALIGNED WITH IT. (SEE AUTOPILOT TABLE) 2 SELECT BOMB DISTRIBUTION MODE (SALVO/SINGLE). 3 CHECK AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE IN THE BOMBARDIER SEAT. 4 CONVERT READ INDICATED AIRSPEED INTO TRUE AIRSPEED AND

USE THIS VALUE FOR BOMBSIGHT AIRSPEED INPUT. TUTORIAL 5 CONVERT ALTITUDE INTO HEIGHT (READ ALTITUDE MINUS TARGET ELEVATION) AND USE THIS VALUE FOR BOMBSIGHT ALTITUDE INPUT.

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART 6 STEER THE AIRCRAFT USING THE DIRECTIONAL GYRO (SEE AUTOPILOT TABLE) UNTIL THE BOMBSIGHT RETICLE IS ON TARGET. 7 DROP ORDNANCE. 75 BOMBING TUTORIAL PHASE 5: BOMBING RUN CHUCK’S BOMBER NUMPAD (APPLICABLE TO BLENHEIM)

OTHER USEFUL COMMANDS NUM / * - (APPLICABLE TO BLENHEIM) INCREASE DECREASE DECREASE DIRECTIONAL DIRECTIONAL COURSE DROP BOMBS B GYRO GYRO SETTER

SWITCH CREW POSITION C (BOMBARDIER/PILOT) 7 8 9 + BOMB BOMB TOGGLE BOMB INCREASE LEAN TO GUNSIGHT JOYSTICK BTN (CUSTOM KEY) DISTRIBUTOR DISTRIBUTOR DISTRIBUTOR COURSE MODE PREVIOUS MODE NEXT SHORT DELAY SETTER COURSE AUTO-PILOT MODE - PREVIOUS A

COURSE AUTO-PILOT MODE – NEXT S 4 5 6 DECREASE BOMB INCREASE INCREASE COURSE AUTO-PILOT L_CTRL+A DISTRIBUTOR BOMB SIGHT ADJUST COURSE LEFT DELAY DISTRIBUTOR DISTANCE COURSE AUTO-PILOT L_CTRL+S DELAY TUTORIAL ADJUST COURSE RIGHT 1 2 3 ENTER DECREASE INCREASE DECREASE TOGGLE BOMB SALVO BOMB SALVO SIGHT BOMBSIGHT AUTOMATION PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART This layout is created with ease of access in mind. Bombsight altitude, velocity and wind QUANTITY QUANTITY DISTANCE correction are already clickable on the sight itself. This layout should allow the user to go through everything he needs set up instinctively following the numpad from 0 to 9. 0 . CAUTION: MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS BETWEEN THESE SELECT BOMB BAY PREVIOUS SELECT BOMB KEYS AND OTHER CONTROLS. YOU WILL HEAR A “PING” WHEN BAY NEXT YOU MAP A CONTROL IF THERE IS SUCH A CONFLICT. 76 BOMBING TUTORIAL PHASE 5: BOMBING RUN

So here is a quick reminder:

• ON THE GROUND 1. Set your predicted bomb run altitude and airspeed in your bombsight while on the ground. 2. Select desired distributor release mode (Salvo? Single?). 3. Unlike german bombers, you do not need to ARM your bombs. Just fly to target.

• IN THE AIR 5. Find target and reach targeted altitude and airspeed TUTORIAL 6. Follow steps detailed in the BOMBSIGHT OPERATION TABLE. 7. Thanks to all the work you did on the ground, you will see that there is not a whole lot to do in previous step apart from putting your bombsight cursor on the target, adjust

PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART slightly bombsight airspeed & altitude and drop bombs when you are on target. 8. Go home for tea and figgy duffs.

77 BOMBING TUTORIAL We had set our bombing altitude to 17000 ft. Reach 19000 ft and engage “Mode 22” auto-pilot mode as seen in Phase 4. PHASE 5: BOMBING RUN Make sure you have a correct heading. You should lose roughly 1000-2000 ft and gain back some airspeed: it is normal.

Use these airspeed and altitude values and find the bombsight height and True Airspeed values as previously shown.

Target is Le Havre Airfield

(hidden by the cloud)

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

78 • Switch to Bombardier position and set your bombsight altitude and airspeed values to BOMBING TUTORIAL those you read on your instrument panel. Remember to adjust these values for TAS (260 mph) and AGL (16,760) as shown in the Planning Phase of the tutorial. PHASE 5: BOMBING RUN • Make necessary course corrections with gyro input until you are aligned with your target. • Select desired bomb distribution mode • Lean to bombsight (same as lean to gunsight button) and align your bombsight reticle with your target. • Drop your bombs and enjoy the fireworks.

Bombsight reticle: Bombs should

land there.

TUTORIAL PART 11: BOMBING BOMBING 11: PART

79 80