This flight model was developed for Operation Tidal Wave with version 2.82.66 of the Flight Model Workbook and Aircraft Container Manager. These procedures were adapted from actual B-24D documentation, and modified for Combat Flight Simulator 2. For detailed instructions on fuel management, autopilot/panel use, and this flight model, scroll down to the bottom of the checklist. For an actual copy of the real B-24D procedures, view the "Notes" section of the Checklist menu.
REALITY X
The "Hail Columbia" incorporates the RealityX features, which will work if you have installed the RealityX plug-in available at AvHistory.org. Please read the aircraft checklist for operational guidelines and limitations. Cylinder head and oil temperatures relative to cowl flap position and airspeed have been very carefully calibrated to match those specified in the real aircraft's flight manual (see the the pilot's notes for the actual B-24D flight procedures). Exceeding these limits will result in engine failure. Visit www.avhistory.org for details on RealityX.
It is a bit of a challenge to accomplish engine start, runup and takeoff without overheating the engines if RealityX is enabled and the cowl flaps are set as directed. The actual aircraft operating manual specified no more than 1/3 cowl flaps for takeoff and none for landing; we're allowing 1/3 cowl flaps for landing because the simulation engine does not properly simulate engine cooling on descent. After completing the runup and deploying the flaps, you must immediately set the cowl flaps to 1/3 and take off without delay or the engines will overheat. A setting of 1/3 cowl flaps during normal or maximum performance climb will adequately cool the engines. As specified in the the actual aircraft procedures, cowl flaps were never opened more than 1/3 for normal takeoff or climb and were completely closed for landing to avoid shock-cooling of the cylinders.
By following the checklists and procedures below, the Reality X limitations should not be exceed in normal flight operations, but you will get close.
To disable the Reality X features, either delete the file "realityx.cfg" in the aircraft's folder or rename it.
(Note: Select the Engineer's Panel by clicking on the compass icon on the upper right of the instrument panel before starting engines in order to monitor engine parameters.)
1. Brakes SET/CHECK
2. Cowl Flaps FULLY OPEN
3. Elevator Trim SET TO INDEX MARK
4. Mixture RICH
5. Propellor HIGH SPEED
6. Fuel BOTH
7. Throttle IDLE POSITION
8. Engines START IN SEQUENCE
9. Run-up 2000 RPM AND HOLD
10. Hydraulic Press CHECK WARN LIGHT OFF
11. Flaps SET AS DESIRED
12. Throttle IDLE POSITION
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TAKEOFF (MAX WEIGHT OF 62,500 LBS)
1. Cowl Flaps 1/3 OPEN
2. Prop set to 2,700 rpm
3. Flaps* 1/2 DOWN (20 DEGREES)
4. Throttle 49 in. Hg.
5. Brakes RELEASE
Rotate at 130 mph IAS.
Retract gear after establishing 135 mph IAS and positive rate of climb.
Retract flaps before reaching 155 mph IAS.
Takeoff Distance 6,000' to clear 50' obstacle.
Note: Engine RPM must be at least 2,000 to develop sufficient hydraulic pressure to lower flaps. Set brakes and run engine up until hydraulic pressure shows on the gauge to the lower left of the the panel and the "HYD PRESS" light on the center panel goes out. Flaps have eight positions. Position #4 is for takeoff. Lower weights may use 10 degrees (1/4 down) of flaps.
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NORMAL CLIMB
Cowl Flaps 1/3 OPEN
Max CHT Temp 260 deg C
Prop set to 2,400 rpm
Throttle 42 in. Hg.
Airspeed 165 mph (IAS)
Fuel to 10,000' MSL 112 Gallons
Distance covered 53 Naut. miles
Time to 10,000' MSL 21 min. 42 sec.
Average fuel burn 300 Gal/hr
Fuel to 25,000' MSL 332 Gallons
Distance covered 192 Naut. miles
Time to 25,000' MSL 65 min. 18 sec.
Average fuel burn 300 Gal/hr
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MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB
Cowl Flaps 1/3 OPEN
Max CHT Temp 260 deg C
Prop set to 2,550 rpm
Throttle 45.5 in. Hg.
Airspeed 155 mph (IAS)
Fuel to 10,000' MSL 90 Gallons
Distance covered 35 Naut. miles
Time to 10,000' MSL 15 min.
Average fuel burn 340 Gal/hr
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CRUISE (LOW LEVEL, BEST RANGE)
Altitude 2,000' MSL
Max CHT Temp 232 deg C
Throttle 32 in. Hg.
Prop set to 1800 rpm
Fuel consumption 166 Gal/hr
Airspeed (IAS) 160 mph
Airspeed (True) 163 mph
Economy (this setting) 0.98 miles/gallon
Range (this setting) 2,940 miles
Note: Range assumes a usable fuel load of
3,000 gallons, no reserve.
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CRUISE (MID LEVEL, BEST RANGE)
Altitude 10,000' MSL
Max CHT Temp 232 deg C
Throttle 33 in. Hg.
Prop set to 1900 rpm
Fuel consumption 180 Gal/hr
Airspeed (IAS) 154 mph
Airspeed (True) 178 mph
Economy (this setting) 0.98 miles/gallon
Range (this setting) 2,940 miles
Note: Range assumes a usable fuel load of
3,000 gallons, no reserve.
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CRUISE (HIGH LEVEL, BEST RANGE)
Altitude 25,000' MSL
Max CHT Temp 232 deg C
Throttle 35.5 in. Hg.
Prop set to 2100 rpm
Fuel consumption 210 Gal/hr
Airspeed (IAS) 150 mph
Airspeed (True) 222 mph
Economy (this setting) 1.05 miles/gallon
Range (this setting) 3171 miles
Note: Range assumes a usable fuel load of
3,000 gallons, no reserve.
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CRUISE SETTINGS, HIGH LEVEL BOMB RUN
Altitude 25,000' MSL
Throttle 37.5 in. Hg.
Prop set to 2100 rpm
Airspeed (IAS) 160 mph
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CRUISE SETTINGS, LOW LEVEL BOMB RUN
Altitude 300' AGL
Throttle 45 in. Hg.
Prop set to 2500 rpm
Airspeed (IAS) 225 mph
Prop Set to WEP 2,700 rpm
Takeoff/Emergency power 49 in. Hg.
Rated power (1 hour) 45.5 in. Hg.
Vy - Best Climb Speed 155 mph (IAS)
Vno - Maneuvering Speed 137 mph (IAS)
*** - Corner Speed 168 mph (IAS)
Vne - Max Dive Speed 335 mph
Max g 3.0 g
Selecting the gas pump icon in the row of icons at the upper right of the panel will bring up the engine starters, feather controls, fuel gauge, and fuel selector.
The fuel selector may be used to select either the right or left main tanks or the bomb bay tank. The "BOTH" position selects all four wing tanks. The "RES" position selects the 800 gallons of fuel available in the bomb bay. The "DROP" position is inactive and will cause the engines to quit.
See the checklist for fuel consumption information during the various flight regimes.
ENGINEER'S PANEL
A condensed engineer's panel has been provided. This shows cylinder head temperatures, fuel pressure, oil pressure, cowl flap position, and oil temperature for each of the four engines. Click on the compass icon to the upper right of the panel to display.
B-24D AUTOPILOT
Clicking on the radio antenna icon in the icon stack will bring up the autopilot and flight management tools. This window has precedence over the engineer's panel and so can be toggled at will withe engineer's panel active.
This simplified autopilot panel was designed specifically for the Operation Tidal Wave Liberators. This will make it much easier to fly the entire mission, manage fuel, and maintain course and heading.
Turn on the autopilot by turning on the power switch on the autopilot unit. The "AP" annunciator icon at the left of the icon stack will also illuminate, providing a reminder that the autopilot is turned on. Clicking this icon will also turn the autopilot on or off.
SETTING THE HEADING
Click on the "HDG" switch to enable the heading hold function (the AP master must be ON). There are three ways to set the heading:
1. Assign a key or controller button to the "Heading Hold" function. Manually establish the aircraft on the desired course. Then click the "Heading Hold" key or button. This instantly sets the autopilot heading to your current heading. If the AP master switch is "ON," the aircraft will begin flying on the assigned heading and remain there until another adjustment is made. If the AP master switch is "OFF" the heading switch on the autopilot will activate and the heading will be stored in the AP memory. If the plane is allowed to drift off course and then the AP master is turned "ON" the plane will turn to the heading entered when the "Heading Hold" button was last depressed.
2. A second method is to adjust the heading setting by using the left mouse held over the dial on the AP. The dial is used to adjust the heading to the right or left in increments or decrements of 1 degree. No numerical display is available on the autopilot but the bracketed pointer on the heading indicator (the large compass-like gauge on the stanchion above the RPM gauges) will move to indicate the current setting.
3. You may also set the heading using the heading indicator on the stanchion above the RPM gauges. Simply click on the small knob on the lower left of the heading indicator until the bracketed pointer is on the desired heading. If the autopilot master and HDG switches are on, the aircraft will begin to turn as you make your adjustments.
SETTING THE ALTITUDE
1. As with heading, assign a controller button or key to the "Altitude Hold" function. Simply press this button to enter your current altitude into the AP memory. If the AP is on the aircraft will hold the current altitude.
2. Use the knob under the ALT display to adjust the desired altitude up or down. The aircraft will climb or descend to the desired altitude if a valid vertical speed value is entered in the V/S window.
SETTING THE VERTICAL SPEED
The default vertical speed for this flight model is 500 feet per minute. Sometimes this value will automatically appear in the V/S hold window. Sometimes it will not. For example, if you want to climb and either no value or a negative value appears, use the knob below the V/S window and set the desired vertical speed. When climbing with the autopilot, adjust the vertical speed as necessary to maintain the desired indicated airspeed. Increasing the vertical speed will decrease the airspeed, and vice versa. The vertical speed displayed by the autopilot may be as much as 100 fpm higher or lower than the aircraft's actual vertical speed. Monitor the vertical speed gauge to obtain the actual vertical speed.
NOTE: This aircraft when fully loaded cannot climb much faster than 500 fpm with the recommended power settings.
The autopilot panel includes the CFO fuel dump gauge and the Concorde clock. Use of these gauges is explained below.
CFO FUEL DUMP GAUGE
The CFO fuel dump/refuel gauge will either dump or refill all tanks to the preset percentage selected by the user. To dump, use the red "dump" switch. To fill, use the toggle switch. Use the leftmouse click function on the "+" or "-" signs to the lower left and right of the toggle switch to change the percentage selected. For additional information visit www.cfops.com.
CONCORDE CLOCK
This is a multifunction digital clock. The lower display is by default GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Use this in conjunction with the analog clock to confirm local time. The upper display is the simulation rate. Clicking in this window will raise or lower the simulation rate to a maximum of 4X. Clicking on the diagonal button on the upper right of the clock will toggle between normal and maximum simulation rates. Clicking on the round button on the upper left of the clock toggles between the digital timer and the GMT time display on the lower window. Clicking on the round button to the lower right of the clock cycles through the digital timer's modes; the first click will display "0:00" which is standby/ready; the second click with display "0.00" which means the timer is active (timing); and the third click resets the timer. There is no way to pause the timer to take a reading and have it continue to operate in the background. To pause to take a reading, simply pause the entire simulator.
BOMBSIGHT TIPS
Two bombsights were provided with this panel. One is for the Operation Tidal Wave mission. The other is for high level bombing up to 25,000 feet.
To use the bombsight views you must first assign a key or controller button to the bombsight views. Assign one key to "LOOK DOWN" (the High Level Bombsight) and another to "LOOK LEFT UP" (the Low Level Bombsight). Depressing either of these keys will select one of the bomb sights.
The Low Level Bombsight (LLB) is very simple to use. It's calibrated for an indicated airspeed of 225 mph and a height above ground of 200-300 feet. Just let 'em go when the target is in the center of the reticle. The reticle in the LLB is also the aimpoint for the four forward-firing machine guns.
The High Level Bombsight works as expected. Get the aircraft to the desired altitude and airspeed well in advance of releasing your bombs. An error of 5 mph will spoil your aim so establish and maintain your airspeed exactly. Follow the instructions on the sight for how to set up bomb runs for various altitudes.
