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Kermit
05-27-2013, 09:46
This is more of a question. I'm trying to figure out what the typical cruising altitude would be for aircraft during WWII.

I know it is vague and I'm not talking about service or max ceilings here.
U.S. divebombers might be cruising at 18,000 ft.
The early Japanese planes might be cruising at 10,000 ft since they weren't pressurized and oxygen might be thin at that height.

Jager
05-27-2013, 16:02
Not sure it was determined by plane type, rather by mission. Later in the war, the RAF did stack SE-5as over Camels when they ran large, multi squadron missions.
Photo-ops would be as high as the planes could go; Rumpler C.IVs were fitted with O2 bottles for the crew, and flew higher than any Entente fighter could, with the exception of the Dolphin (IIRC), and then only with difficulty.
Arty-spotting would be lower.
Karl

CappyTom
05-28-2013, 16:28
Not sure it was determined by plane type, rather by mission. Later in the war, the RAF did stack SE-5as over Camels when they ran large, multi squadron missions.
Photo-ops would be as high as the planes could go; Rumpler C.IVs were fitted with O2 bottles for the crew, and flew higher than any Entente fighter could, with the exception of the Dolphin (IIRC), and then only with difficulty.
Arty-spotting would be lower.
Karl

I think he was talking about WW2 not WW1 Karl old friend of mine.
:p
Thomas

Jager
05-30-2013, 03:20
I think he was talking about WW2 not WW1 Karl old friend of mine.
:p
Thomas

Oops, wrong gear setting in the old time machine.
Sorry :embarass:
Karl

CappyTom
05-30-2013, 14:19
I can't find any set altitude for all planes. As they would set the altitude for the mission they were doing.

Thomas

'Warspite'
06-02-2013, 15:59
I agree, there was no set altitude.

In certain cases an aircraft might cruise at its most economical height. i.e. the height at which is might fly furthest on its fuel load.
I seem to recall that Atlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh visited P-38 squadrons in the Pacific to advise on economy/range issues on the P-38 and demonstrate how to make the most of the aeroplane. One direct result of this was the famous interception of Yamamoto's island-hopping flight and his subsequent death.

mik
07-19-2013, 05:40
OK guys here is how it works. Spec for A6M2b Zero
Max speed at 14930ft 332mph 282mphat sea level.
Engine 940hp @ take off. 950hp @ 13780ft

The pilot takes off, turocharger/supercharger maintains air pressure of zero feet up to 13780ft and in the thinner air it goes faster. At much above this altitude power and speed start to fall off. So you will not find a Zero choosing to cruise much above 15000ft without a good reason.

mik the stick

mik
07-19-2013, 07:03
Just been on the IJN website. found this.

One Nakajima NK1F Sakae 21 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 1,130 hp for take-off, 1,100 hp at 2,850 m and 980 hp at 6,000 m, driving a three-blade metal propeller (A6M3, A6M5, A6M5a, A6M5b and A6M5c).

This is I think an example of a two stage supercharger. So the later Zeros would be quite happy cruising at about 19000ft and B17's at 25000ft would have problems.