Do you fly the B-29 Superfortress ?

[timothy]

Do you fly the B-29B Superfortress ?

This is from the Vintage Freeware site. I have recently downloaded
this sim and it is fantastic to fly, but I cannot get Reverse Thrust to work on my aircraft. I have tried F2 of course and even pulled the throttles right back on landing although this is not very practical. Without success I might add.

Anyone else fly this and if so can you get reverse Thrust to work ?

Thanks
Timothy.

[timothy]

Just thought I had better add- this is the B-29 Superfortress 'Mania' by Tom Kohler

[TSC.]

Does the B-29B have turboprop engines?? If not then you won't get any reverse thrust.

Other than that i'm out of ideas, sorry. (it's not one I fly).

Cheers,

TSC.

[Jakemaster]

I have no idea where you got the notion that a B-29 has reverse thrust.  It doesnt.  Not everyplane does.

And TSC, it doesnt have to be a turboprop, it can be a normal one (reverse pitch)

[ashaman]

That I know of (for having seen it in documentaries) the only B29's that underwent modifications, 5 of them if I recall correctly, so they could have reverse thrust were the few that were to be used as atomic bombers on Japan, and even those few used the reverse thrust only on the ground, for better positioning themselves during bomb loading, not for added brake effect on landing.

Perhaps the B29 you've downloaded is not one of those five. If so you'll have to modify them yourself, if you want reverse thrust.

[simonmd]

I've got the same package and it deffinately doesn't. As far as I know (apart from the odd experimental as mentioned above) NO piston emgined AC has Rev thrust.

[Fozzer]

The Wright, twin-row, radial engine fitted to the B-29 Flying Fortress...>>>

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/engines/eng43.htm

..similar to the engine fitted to my Cosmos Flexwing...

Paul...!

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/air_power/ap20.htm

[Marlin]

Fozzer, thanks for the pics!! Wow huh?

[ozzy72]

I don't think there is a reverse pitch on the 29 but try SHIFT+F1 that should throw things into reverse gear

[crapshooter]

Most WWII era aircraft did not have a dedicated "reverse thrust" range on their condition (prop) levers.

As for using reverse thrust, no aircraft uses reverse thrust in flight...it is a definate no-no...it makes your airplane fall out of the sky! Reverse thrust is only used during the landing sequence to slow the aircraft enough to be able to apply the brakes without overheating them. Brakes are normally applied after the aircraft has slowed below 78-80 knots. To assist in transferring the weight of the aircraft to the wheels, so reverse thrust and brakes can be more efficient, some aircraft deploy their spoilers to the "ground limit" to cancel all lift. On some aircraft the reverse range of the props (C-130, Dash or the reverse thrust of the engines (C-17, C-141) is so strong that the aircraft can actually back up and maneuver while doing so!

I hope this helps some of the simmers out there with little real world aircraft experience.
L.A. Smith
pilot (recips), A&P mechanic (recips, turboprops, jets)

[ashaman]

As for using reverse thrust, no aircraft uses reverse thrust in flight...it is a definate no-no...it makes your airplane fall out of the sky!

Actually the DC8 and the Concorde were able to open the reverser in flight. The DC8 because had no airbrakes (at least in the first production models, the latters models I don't know) and needed a way to slow down while in the air, and the Concorde because of its wing's design could not have wing-mounted airbrakes.

I could be wrong, as always, but I seem to recall something along these lines.

[simonmd]

I'm pretty sure I read on here that some bush planes have it for use in flight as well. The DH3 Super Otter and the Pilatus Porter are two that come to mind. Used for landing in very short runways/clearings that would otherwise be inaccessable.

[timothy]

OK and thank you for all your replies. Actually you confirmed what I thought but what threw me was in the Read Me by the Author he says ' Use Reverse Thrust' so naturally I guessed there was one.  It is a very interesting aircraft to fly and to land  you can come in low enough and slowly enough to come to a halt with brakes- as long as the runway is long enough  and you start the approach early.
Thanks to all
Timothy