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| City: | Wynne, Arkansas  | | Personal Data: | Male, born: November 26 1954 | | Membership | 21years 131days ago. | | Last Login | 3years 361days ago. | | Last Move | 3years 351days ago. | kduke is currently  | Send a mail to kduke |
| Message header | Area/Game: | Blue Max | | Topic: | Other | | Subject: | Re: Camel/Pfalz lop-sided moves | | Posted by: | kduke - 20years 152days ago. |
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| Message text Correct-a-mundo.
All rotary engines were subject to the torque problem. The Fokker Triplane had the off-side flaps larger than the right in hopes of correcting. But the Camel, with high torque and short fuselage was particularly rough on this-- pilots were known to turn right when they wanted to go left, because it was FASTER to get 90 degrees left by going 270 degrees to the right.
It's one thing the original game got very well. Unfortunately, they also decided to set the "zero" point on performance at 15,000 feet, which was a little high for the original Camel/engine combination...which is why the Camel, the very first plane "designed" in BM, is such a poor performer. (I got this info from the designer-- altho he does not perceive an error/problem like I do.)
As to the second part of your question, the Pfalz's amazing left turns... no one has ever given a reasonable explanation. The Pfalz itself was an odd-but-good design. Slower than the Albatros' it was supposed to replace but strong in a dive and with a maneuverability that pilots--mostly Bavarians-- learned to appreciate.
But why it turns wonderfully left and not right? It is an in-line engine and torque should not be an issue. Nothing odd in the flaps... That is a mystery for all times. Canvas Eagles "fixed" a number of BM errors, but the snap left (but not righ) turn for the Pfalz is still there. |
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