optimum speed and cruising altitude.

[Bubblehead]

What section in the aircraft cfg can I do adjustments regarding max speed and altitude. I just want to make sure I don't exceed the settings.

Thanks

[garymbuska]

What section in the aircraft cfg can I do adjustments regarding max speed and altitude. I just want to make sure I don't exceed the settings.

Thanks

This is what you are looking for
[Reference Speeds]
flaps_up_stall_speed=128.000
full_flaps_stall_speed=102.000
cruise_speed=455.020
max_indicated_speed=350.000000
max_mach=0.820020

Keep in mind that changing anything in this area will not help the aircraft perform better.
You can always look up the real world specs on any aircraft providing one exists and try changing the specs in this area to match that of the real world aircraft.
But beware other things should probably be changed as well such as weight and balance and the one thing you never want to exceed Maximum take off weight.
This is another area that you might want to look at

[flight_tuning]
parasite_drag_scalar=1.0
induced_drag_scalar=1.0
elevator_effectiveness=0.95
pitch_stability=1.0
roll_stability=1.0
yaw_stability=1.0
elevator_trim_effectiveness=1.2
aileron_trim_effectiveness=0.9
rudder_trim_effectiveness=1.1
But beware changing things in this area can have adverse effects

[Bubblehead]

Thanks Gary: I'm not going to mess with it. I just need the info to compare flight characteristics of aircraft of the same type. I have a copy of the optimum speeds in Mach and MPH of the more popular commercial jets at various cruising altitudes just so I don't exceed them.

[pete]

You should always make a backup of the aircraft.cfg folder if you change stuff -- then you can mess with it as much as you like and you can revert to original at any time.

[mjrhealth]

Just remember optimum comes with a lot of whats best. Just becasue a plane can fly at 35000 ft doesnt mean that is the best heigh neither is it best speed neccesary the best. Thera lot of factors that come into play. So unless you know what you are doung id be carefull.

Weight - Sometimes planes need to setp climb to burn off fuel so they can safely fly at he higher altitudes.
Speed.- A plane flying long distances may need to fly slower to conserve fuel, the faster you go the more fuel you burn
Wind speed height direction. The wind on the ground can be doing 10 kts from the south at 19 000 30 knots from the east and at 40 000 , 100 kts from the west, which is why pilots check weather reports.
A flight from Sydney to Perth takes 4.5 to5 hrs from Perth to Sydney can be as litlle as 3.5, we once flew down to adelaide on the way to Perth because of the wind speeds at altitude. That was a long flight.

[garymbuska]

Just remember optimum comes with a lot of whats best. Just because a plane can fly at 35000 ft doesn't mean that is the best height neither is it best speed necessary the best. There is a lot of factors that come into play. So unless you know what you are doing and be careful.

Weight - Sometimes planes need to steep climb to burn off fuel so they can safely fly at he higher altitudes.
Speed.- A plane flying long distances may need to fly slower to conserve fuel, the faster you go the more fuel you burn
Wind speed height direction. The wind on the ground can be doing 10 kts from the south at 19 000 30 knots from the east and at 40 000 , 100 kts from the west, which is why pilots check weather reports.
A flight from Sydney to Perth takes 4.5 to5 hrs from Perth to Sydney can be as little as 3.5, we once flew down to Adelaide on the way to Perth because of the wind speeds at altitude. That was a long flight.

You are 100% correct here In the US flying from the West Coast to the East Coast you can have a head wind exceeding 100 MPH at flight levels above 30,000 ft In the summer these head winds will blow one way and in the winter the other I always manage to get them backwards. I want to say that during the summer the head winds are form the west but like I said I seem to get these backwards.

[Fozzer]

Apart from rain, winds can be either a blessing or a curse for me on my Motorbikes.
Before I depart, I always check the wind strength and direction before I start out on my journey, and hope that it is always a tail wind in both directions....
...which it rarely is!

In my Flight Sim I always re-arrange the weather conditions to make my journey as speedy, pleasant, and as comfortable as possible....
...every time....which I can!

Paul.....I like comfort.... ...!