Red Baron Flight Test Data

All the work presented here was done by members of the JGS4-PanWorld International Wings squadron.  It is with great appreciation and their permission that it is provided here.
-Chevelle

All tests were conducted using the Normal Flight Mode (NFM). The planes tested were:

Each plane was tested for the following performance characteristics:

• Top Speed (level flight)
• Rate of Climb
• Rate of Turn
• Rate of Roll

NOTE: All tests were performed by one pilot using the same hardware and software.  Tests run by other pilots using a different setup may generate different absolute results but the relative performance of each plane should be the same.   In other words, "your mileage may vary."

TOP SPEED TEST

Method: Each plane was flown up to an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and then put on level flight autopilot.  When the planes reached their top speed, the value was recorded.  The table shows the recorded speeds in order.  The percentage column is the comparison of each plane to the plane with the highest top speed.

RATE OF CLIMB

Method: Each plane was flown up to an altitude of 2,000 ft (~600 m).  After reaching their top speed in level flight, each plane was then flown to 3,000 ft (~900 m) and the time was recorded.  The percentage column is the comparison of each plane to the plane with the fasted rate of climb.

RATE OF TURN

Method: Each plane was brought to level flight and top speed heading north.  A turn was made until the plane was again flying north (360°) and the time was recorded.  The maneuver was made without rudder input since the effective use of rudder is highly dependent on pilot skill and therefore highly variable.   The percentage column is the comparison of each plane to the plane with the fasted rate of turn.

RATE OF ROLL

Method: Each plane was brought to level flight and top speed.  An aileron roll was made until the plane was again flying level and the time was recorded.  The maneuver was made without rudder input since the effective use of rudder is highly dependent on pilot skill and therefore highly variable.   The percentage column is the comparison of each plane to the plane with the fasted rate of roll.

INDIVIDUAL TEST CONCLUSIONS

When considering each test individually, the ranking of each plane seems consistent with actual online performance.  As one would expect, the DR1 was shown to have the best rate of turn and the SPAD XIII had the highest top speed.

The results are also reasonably consistent with the performance of the actual aircraft.  The Sopwith Snipe has high scores in all four of these test as one would expect from a plane that went into service late in WWI.  The same is also true for the Fokker D7.

The correlation, or more accurately the lack of correlation, between plane performance and online popularity is very interesting.  The Nieuport 28 did not perform particularly well in any test yet it is a relatively popular plane with online pilots.  The same can be said about the Sopwith Camel.  The Sopwith Snipe however, with respectable scores in every category, is arguably the fifth most popular Allied plane, behind the SPAD XIII, the Camel, the Nieuport 28, the Triplane, and the SE5a.  On the German side, the Fokker D7 out performed the Fokker DR1 in every test except rate of turn yet the DR1 is by far the more popular plane.

COMPARATIVE SUMMARY

Although of little tactical value, it is interesting to attempt to determine the overall "best" plane.  The following table shows all the percentage scores of all the planes for all the tests.  The percentage scores were averaged for each plane.  The planes are listed from the highest average percentage to the lowest.

The results of the above table may be different from the "feeling" that one may have about these planes.  Again, remember that the above results were determined by giving equal importance to all four flight characteristics.  The results would be different if certain flight characteristics were considered to have more importance over others.   In actual combat conditions, depending on the flying style of the pilot, speed could be considered more important than roll rate or the rate of turn could be considered more important that rate of climb.  These weightings would be up to the individual pilot.  Certainly each pilot will continue to choose a plane that matches their particular flying style, skill level, and the expectation of the type of plane an opponent will be flying.  A skilled pilot will fly in a manner that will exploit the advantages of his plane and minimize the disadvantages.

Even so, it is interesting to note some unexpected results from the equal weight comparisons shown above.  The Snipe has the highest overall score but is not frequently used in online combat.  The same could be said for the second place Fokker D7.  The Camel, SPAD XIII, and the DR1 are unquestionably the most commonly used planes yet their scores are surprisingly mediocre.  This would indicate that Red Baron pilots do not consider these four flying characteristics to be of equal importance.

Final Notes

All the actual testing was done by members of JGS4.  None of the raw data was changed in this report.  A modest change was made to the method by which the percentages were calculated and therefore these numbers vary slightly from the original JGS4 report but the final rankings do not.  The conclusions presented here include most of those that are contained in the original JGS4 report with some additional comments by BA°Chevelle.  The original report can be found on the JGS4 web site.

Wings of Valor would again like to express its appreciation to the members of JGS4 for their hard work in creating the original report and for granting permission for its presentation on Wings of Valor.

Salute
Chevelle