Are Pure Vertical Dives or climbs a "starting" attitude or not ?
Hello fellow Refs,
I've been asked to declare whether Pure Vertical Dives or climbs are a "starting" attitude or not.
Per Chapter 6 opening paragraph, there are only twelve "defined" flight attitudes. In the vertical department there are four, upright vertical dives and climbs and inverted vertical dive and climbs. "Pure vertical dives or climbs" are NOT considered defined starting attitudes.
In rule 6.2 - The expenditure of all FPs as VFPs is defined as PURE VERTICAL FLIGHT (emphasis "FLIGHT") under the vertical attitudes section, and when this occurs, MC, which would normally be 1/3 playable FPs in 100' increments, is adjusted to 0 and OC is different as well. This definition is used only to modify MC to zero and allow the different OC, and only on game turns in which pure vertical flight is employed.
Per the designer's notes in Chapter 6, MC and OC slew aircraft distances toward Pythagorean correct values. So in the case where all FPs are VFPs, a different ratio had to be used than when there is a mix of HFP and VFPs.
Granted – in the play aids, Pure Vertical is listed under the "Attitudes" column thus appearing as if it were an attitude and this is confusing. It is there simply as that seemed a convenient place to remind players about the differences in MC and OC use between normal Vertical attitudes and the occurrence of PURE VERTICAL FLIGHT (emphasis FLIGHT). The word "flight" did not fit so I left it off.
It was NOT the designer's intent that pure vertical flight be considered a separate and distinct STARTING flight attitude from regular vertical flight. Rather it is a section of vertical flight that has different MC and OC requirements. But these only apply if the player elects to use all FPs as VFPs. This is clearer in the text rules than in the condensed summarized play aids.
I will happily take suggestions on how to make that clearer in the play aids, but space is at a premium.
cheers,
J.D.
(https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FW_Referee_Central/conversations/messages/2550) 11/04/2014
If the a/c is controlled and all speed-related FPs are indeed VFPs, does it have to be a PVD ?
Yes.
"Vertical Climbs & Dives: ... . If all FPs are used as VFPs, this is "pure vertical flight". In pure vertical flight no MC occurs."
Wild Bill
BoB GM
or can the pilot choose?
No.
Wild Bill
BoB GM
Secondly, if the a/c is out of control does PVD become a mandatory if all speed-related FPs are VFPs?
Yes, with Max OC. MC is still zero (0)
Wild Bill
BoB GM
(https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/FW_10_May_1940/conversations/messages/969) 16/05/2016