So, if we're not going to follow the box rules, I propose we 'uncripple' the Bristol and give it back all it's guns, and the '3' speed straight maneuvers, to reflect it's true straight line speed. We could do this for Camels as well, as they were not as pitifully slow as the original game designers thought. Additionally, the N.28 could have the 10L2 and 10R2. While we're at it, give the Pfalz DIII the same chart as the Albatros DVa, and the DXII the same chart as the Fokker D.VII. (I could never figure out how a low horsepower INLINE engine that weighed a ton could possibly produce enough torque to 'spin' an aircraft. I have found 0 documentation that a Pfalz DIII could turn better to the left.)
The Camel flew with at least 3 different engines, the Le Rhone, Clerget, and BR1. The game posits an altitude of 15000 feet, at the altitude the statistics for speed are: Le Rhone-103mph, Clerget-105mph, BR1-103mph. The Camel commonly flew witht he Le Rhone. Clerget and Le Rhone were produced by the French and were limited in supply. In fact, Camel production outstripped engine supply and a 100hp Gnome Monosoupape was tested and "compared favorably. All statistics were taken from British tests of the aircraft.
The Bristol was intended to be armed with two Lewis guns for the observer, but was more commonly flown with only one to save weight. A decision was made to use both guns since that was what was intended by the design, but it is perfectly acceptable to fly with only one since that was the prefered method at squadron level. As for speed,British tests show it to have the same speed performance at 15000 feet as the Camel.
The N-17 has a much lower wing loading than the N-28, which, when loaded outweighs the N-17 by nearly 30%. There was a corresponding reduction in performance and was the main reason the plane was given to the Americans. It was basically a French reject.
The Pfalz D-III information came from an article in either Over the Front or Cross and Cockade, I don't recall which, and my Cross and Cockade has disappeared along with my Over the Front. The article was an interview with a Pfalz pilot who flew on the front near Switzerland. He stated that the aircraft would snap into a left turn, but was sluggish turning to the right, and that was incorporated into the game.
Three quotes about the Pfalz D.XII:
"During larger operations we flew the Fokker D.VII and Pfalz D.XII mostly together. Both types were similar, but the Fokker was more maneuverable. Therefore the Pfalz pilots had orders from me, during attacks by the enemy, to fly below the Fokkers." Ltn Rudolph Stark, C.O. Jasta 35.
"In fact it climbed well and could fly along with the Fokker D.VII in all respects and in a dive it was a bit faster. But in turns and in combat it was slow and could not compare with the Fokkers. The Pfalz was a sluggish workhorse which fought the bridle and had to be controlled with a strong halter". Ltn Stark in Jagdstaffel Unsere Heimat
"When banking the aircraft into a turn, normal altitude can not be maintained since the sluggishnes of the controls in the turn causes the aircraft to lose 150 metres (490 feet). Ltn von Hippel, technical officer, Jasta 71
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