In article ,
(Corky Scott) wrote:


His first tour was in 1944 and he flew llloooooonnnnnnggggggg patrols
out of Guadalcanal and Green Island, among other places. 12 to 14
hours in flight were routine. He told me that they would take off,
heavily overloaded with fuel, and wheeze up to around 5,300
feet, then throttle back and lean the engines out to their cruise
settings, and gently dive down to 5,000 feet to get it "on the step"
to maximize their crusing range. Now adays I know that "the step" is
an aeronautical myth, but it's interesting that that's the way they
were taught.

The Navy did some amazing work with the PB4Y-1 and -2. I've read/been
told of patrols as long as 18+ hours. They worked as single-ships or
two-ships most of the time. Brave men.

Getting "on the step" is worth about 15 knots in cruise speed. I know,
no such thing as a step in airplanes. But grab a B-24, I'll grab one
and lets race. I'll be "on step" and I'll beat ya every time. G

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html