
Testing Firepower Aircraft
For those wishing to do their own FirePower flight tests, please keep in
mind the following points:
- All aircraft were developed
on the "Hard" skill level setting with "normal"
weapons effectiveness.
- Test the aircraft at the
proper "test weight" which is listed in that aircraft's help
file. Aircraft are tested at a normal takeoff or combat weight,
which is often less than a full fuel load.
- Do not carry any external
stores; these create drag and will affect the top speed and overall
performance.
- Do not use the autopilot for
any test purpose. The autopilot also controls the throttle and
depletes fuel rapidly, thus invalidating any test results.
- When performing a climb test,
the proper climb power as listed in the help file must be set at an
altitude of 1,000 feet AGL. The climb speed should be set as soon as
possible after takeoff and the aircraft should be cleaned up by 500 feet
AGL (1,000 feet AGL for bombers or as stated in the checklist). The
climb speed must be maintained within a range of +/- 3 mph.
- The aircraft can take up to
15 minutes or more to stabilize for top speed tests. The VSI must be
kept exactly on the zero mark or the speed will vary.
- Roll rates were tested in a
level flight attitude or slight dive to gain the proper airspeed.
Use of the rudder or a nose-up attitude will affect roll rates.
- G forces were measured in an
"elevator" turn at an 80-90 degree bank, entered at an airspeed
slightly above the test speed. The stick was pulled smoothly but
firmly back until obtaining the maximum g force just before the stall,
which is indicated by the yellow warning text.
- 1 g stalls were tested by
flying the aircraft in slow flight, maintaining the VSI needle on zero,
and slowly reducing power and trimming the aircraft until onset of the
stall.
- Fighter aircraft were
extensively tested by dogfighting various stock aircraft and each other to
confirm handling characteristics. The AI aircraft were set to the
"Ace" skill level for these tests.