AD-1 "Skyraider"

AD-2

AEC:

The AD-2 "feels" a lot like the P-63; it has good instantaneous turn rate without sacrificing significant amounts of energy and what energy it does lose it'll quickly make up for again with its monster engine. The AD-2 sits in the 310 - 335 mph range for the duration of the race and the AEC algorithm is effective in balancing engine temperatures and drag. One of the things that annoyed me (its on all Skyraiders) is: as an aircraft travels faster its AOA (angle of attack) reduces from +10 degrees (just an example) to 0 degrees as it accelerates. This reduces drag over the wing and increases efficiency. On some aircraft, like the Skyraiders, as the aircraft gets closer to its top speed the nose AOA will start to dip below the horizon line, for example the Skyraider will sit with a -2 to -5 AOA for the duration of the race. While not typically problematic in a performance way it does bother my muscle memory when racing around the track. This can inadvertently cause the pilot to sink their aircraft as its easy to forget about this negative AOA tendency as they cruise into the river.

MEC:

In practice the best way to cool this engine over the duration of the race is 90% prop pitch and an incremental radiator % strategy. At the start of the race as you cross the starting line have rads % at 3, once the numbers become solid red move to 10, then when they get to solid red again move to 13, then to 15, then the last time move to 40. This will effectively keep the engine in the high orange temperature number to low red all the way up until a quarter mile from the final bridge.

AD-4

AEC:

The extra weight of the additional cannons on the AD-4 universally affect every aspect of the Skyraider. The aircraft becomes noticeably more sluggish in turns, acceleration, and energy retention. The engine also overheats more quickly, forcing me to stop using WEP far earlier than I would have in the AD-2. All of this and the plane barely maintains a 325 mph top speed over the course.

MEC:

The AD-4 follows a similar incremental strategy as the previous variant: 95% pp - 10-20-25% rads, increasing radiators % every time the engine reaches flashing red temperature numbers.

A-1H

AEC:

The A-1H is heavier still and this weight further impacts its racing performance in the same ways as the -4 variant. The A-1H maintains a 290-320 mph range and struggles to move past 320 even during the longest straights. Unlike the AD-2 or 4, any minor correction in course tends to bleed speed more significantly on this variant.

MEC:

Once again the A-1H needs an incremental cooling strategy of: 95% pp - 0-10-15-25 rads % every time it overheats.