::
: God I love you guys... Youll find three versions of the Bleriot in the package: Thr 25HP Anzani has a fairly accurate flight model for mid level pilots wanting a challenge but not wanting white knuckle-itus: The 25HP RIP version is what we originally jokingly referred too as the "study Level" version. The flight model is as exact as were were able to make it, and has been corroborated to be so by several historians and I think maybe even one pilot ( though things were moving so fast there I wasnt sure who was saying what ). The 50HP Gnome is the easy model. It was made for all skill levels being the fastest and easiest to fly of the trio. It was used during WWI by several forces for reconnaissance.
Flying the Bleriot requires you too forget everything you think you know about being an aviator. Your 3000 hours in the seat of some tubliner or even a piper cub, isnt going to save you from the Bleriot. It's small, heavy tail caused enough drag to keep it on the ground and you could never get off if you didnt get the tail up ( lightly push the stick forward at around 10MPH to bring the tail up )The plane will accelerate fairly quickly ( within the limitations of the sims current Flight model engine )and the plane will gently lift off at 26MPH. DONT pull back on the stick. Youll stall. Your altitude is controlled by the amount of lift you can produce, and the amount of lift is controlled by your speed. Keep the plane level and let it build up speed. Itll climb on its own at a nice steady 40MPH up through 6000 feet.
When you turn, make it slow. This plane has a massive amount of sideslip and the longer you let that sideslip control the plane, the faster it builds up till you finally spin into a spiral and crash. Always use a light reverse rudder to counter the turn but dont go into too steep of a bank ( unless your in the Gnome ). It will end you..
Finally, This thing may as well not have a rudder while its on the ground.. The original Bleriots had to have assistants line it up on the runway, but we dont have that here, so I gave you just the mildest bit of rudder to help you keep it straight. It still doesnt do much, but its something.. Never take this plane off in any crosswind above 4 knots. Never take this plane off in any direction except into the wind and never land it except into the wind.. Crabbing is normal, even with a two MPH breeze..
I thouroughly enjoyed working on this plane with Wing42. It was most assuredly, a work of love. I do hope youll find this to be the most challenging aircraft you have ever flown, and if you become half as thrilled flying it as I was making it fly, then I have succeeded..
Love you guys:
Pam
PS:: Special mentions go out to the Old Rhinbeck Aerodrome for their Many quality videos they have made of their Bleriot, Louis Bleriot the grandson of Louis Bleriot for his amazing documentary on the Bleriot XI, and too too many quality history sites for their knowledge, history and wisdom. Without even one of these things, I could not have made the flight model..
.
!
