I have been testing the braking efficiency of USAF and RAF bombers. I'm certain that there are stats on real aircraft of WWII but I am only interested in how the planes are modelled in !L-2 Sturmovik 1946. For these tests I chose the largest bomb load and 80% fuel for each aircraft so that they were all tested under the same conditions. The test only involved multi-engined aircraft. The results are as follows.
Turning on a Dime from Full Stop
Method 1: Full rudder, hard on breaks and about 25% throttle
Method 2: Select outboard engine and about 25% throttle
N.B. Throttle back to 0% five or ten degrees before you reach your desired direction as the plane will keep turning.
Parking
When precision parking (wing tip aligned) go external, turn off Track IR (F9), change view with the mouse so that you are above and slightly behind your plane. This way you can clearly see your wingtips and plane position.
When you spawn in go external and zoom right out with your mouse to see the layout of the field.
Taxiing and Breaking
From the results below you can see the dangers of taxiing too fast. Stopping at speed is a real hazard.
The general rule of thumb should be as follows but will vary with each aircraft
Taxi speed 10-15mph Corning speed 5-10 mph
Speeds above 20mph ARE SERIOUSLY UNADVISABLE
EVALUATION METHOD - On reaching the start line I applied 0% throttle and full breaks
Boeing B-17 (Flying Fortress)
Consolidated B-24 (Liberator)
North American B-25 (Mitchell)
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1/2 plane length
20 mph = 1.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 3 plane lengths
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1/2 plane length
20 mph = 1 plane length
30 mph = 2.5 plane lengths
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 3/4 plane length
20 mph = 1.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
Boeing B-29 (Superfortress)
Douglas A-20 (Boston/Havac)
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1/2 plane length
20 mph = 1.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 3/4 plane length
20 mph = 1.5 plane lengths
30 mph = 2 plane lengths
Handley-Page Halifax
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 3/4 plane length
20 mph = 1.5 plane lengths
30 mph = 2.75 plane lengths
Vickers Wellington MkIII
Bristol Blenheim MkIV
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 3/4 plane length
20 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 3.25 plane lengths
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2.5 plane lengths
30 mph = 5.25 plane lengths****
**** = Seriously bad
Bristol Beaufighter MkX
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 4 plane lengths
DH.98 Mosquito MkIV
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1.25 plane length
20 mph = 2.5 plane lengths
30 mph = 5 plane lengths ****
Bristol Beaufort Mk II
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 3 plane lengths
30 mph = 5.25 plane lengths ****
Whitley MkIII
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2.5 plane lengths
30 mph = 4.25 plane lengths
Short Sterling MkIII
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1.25 plane length
20 mph = 4.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 8 plane lengths****
Avro Lancaster
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1.75 plane length
20 mph = 4 plane lengths
30 mph = 7 plane lengths****
HP Hampden MkIII
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 4 plane length
Vickers Wellesley MkIII
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2 plane lengths
30 mph = 4 plane lengths
Martin B-26 (Marauder)
Stopping Distance
10 mph = 1 plane length
20 mph = 2.25 plane lengths
30 mph = 3.75 plane lengths
You know that your gear is up and locked when
it takes full power to taxi to the terminal