EMatheson wrote:
I have been attempting to fly my new WoP aircraft "by the book" since I bought the aircraft Powerpack on Saturday... here it is just Wednesday and I don't have any hair left!
Every time I attempt to fly the B-17s or the B-29, however scrupulously close to "by the book" I fly, I loose hydraulic pressure just after lift-off, preventing me from raising the gear...
I have a very hard time believing that the hydraulic systems on these bombers were so very delicate!
Further, I have read all the documentation contained in my copy of the Powerpack without finding anything mentioned about hydraulic pressure!
I am at my wits end... please help!!!!
E. Matheson;
I read your post back in May, having never experienced your problem, I moved on..
Recently, I was starting the WOP B-17G "By The Book" (and the "book" being a USAAF Issued Pilots Instruction Manual).. One of the "steps" is to turn off the Generators before take-off and insure they are off during Run-Up..
As I was taxiing out to the runway, I noticed my Hydraulic Pressure Warning Light on and Hyd pressure was zero.. Thinking this was an "FS9" issue

, I hit "Esc" and restarted the flight.. same place, same drill.. No Hyd Pressure

.. I abandoned the "Dark & Cold" start and changed to a "running at the beginning of the runway" start, instead as I wanted to practice some "go around and land after an engine failure" drills, so on Climb-Out, I shut off the fuel & boost switches to #3, feathered the engine and turned-off the #3 Mag.. not a few seconds later I watched the needle of the Hydraulic Pressure Gauge slowly drop to zero.. The "Light Bulb" went on

!! The #3 Engine either powers the Hyd pump, or the #3 Electrical System powers the Hyd Pump.. but in either case, the #3 Generator MUST be on to have Hydraulic Pressure in the B-17G.. Don't know if this is true or not with the B-29.. But it might be something to look into on your next B-17 flight..
Hope this helps.