Power lines

[Reflected]

Do power lines have collision models? Sometimes I seem to be able to fly through them intact, sometimes I get damaged. Not really sure.

 

Thanks!

[razo+r]

in 1.5 you can fly through them

 

in 2.0 you will most likely die

[Oceandar]

You'll be instantly slam to the ground in KA-50 while in the jet (FC3) mostly you'd be fine (in DCS 1.5)

[bolek]

In my experience in 1.5 helicopters are affected by power lines (rotor gets tangled up) but fixed wing aircraft are not. This is for the wires themselves, masts are always a collision.

[Slazi]

I remember discussions about working cable cutters on helos. You may want to search for that topic.

[shagrat]

Depends on speed, angle etc.

Helicopters usually die, Jets often cut / rip of the wires.

If you look in external view, you can see the missing wire(s).

 

In FC2 (yes effect is that old) you had even the wires lying on the ground... ;)

[Flagrum]

I remember discussions about working cable cutters on helos. You may want to search for that topic.

I started started that thread in the SA342 forum regarding the wire cutters. :-)

 

Conclusion was, you have to hit the wires so that the cable cutter can cut the cable. Otherwise the cable cuts you ... (i.e. yes, wires are modelled and wire cutters as well).

 

Even fixed wing aircraft are affected - but they usually win against the wires (at least my experience). But you can notice a slight shudder in, for example, the A-10. In faster jets might not be noticeable at all, though.

[grunf]

Here's the thread:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=166254

[FragBum]

Yes in 2.0 you get see blue flashes and you may or may not die. :music_whistling:

[Slazi]

Resolved!

[plaiskool]

Uppppppp! may we roll back to this previous behavior when hitting powerlines? frustrating as hell to explode just buy hitting telephone lines.... and overall not real at all.

[draconus]

It depends of both the type of power lines and the aircraft you fly in DCS. Most of the lines kill only FC aircraft.

I'd prefer crash rather than safe fly through, but of course best would be different damage (or not) depending on many factors (speed, aircraft, power line type).

[plaiskool]

Real life, power lines don't make aircraft explode....

[razo+r]

There is no clear yes/no answer to that. Explosion might be unlikely, but it can still set you on fire. And it could also cause catastrophic damage, or not. There are so many variables at play here, wire thickness, aircraft type and construction, fuel load, weapon load, speed etc.

[Dragon1-1]

IRL, you could rip something off, certainly take damage and you'd often break the wire. There was an incident when a low flying EA-6 cut a cable for a cable car in Italy, killing the people in the car. The EA-6 pilot (a capital-A asshole, from what I've heard from a Marine who had the "pleasure" to be on his deck crew) survived and in fact, kept flying like nothing has happened. The aircraft was damaged, but not heavily.

[=DROOPY=]

I know from personal experience(s) that in some cases the Wire Strike Protection System on helicopters can only do so much. A helicopter most likely will not survive striking a high voltage high tension power line.

I flew with a Chinook crew, that much to my horror, all perished a week after, from striking power lines draped across a river. 

https://www.chinook-helicopter.com/history/aircraft/D_Models/90-00201/90-00201.html

Edited October 13, 2024 by =DROOPY=

[draconus]

There's a reason power lines are shown on every detailed military aircraft map. [general comment, not directed to the post above]

Edited October 16, 2024 by draconus

[Nodak]

Was out snowmobiling a 100 mile loop trail south of Fargo and a ground blizzard developed on the far end, was a little disoriented on the flat valley almost featureless terrain.  Fortunately I had a USAF tactical planning map stuck in the clear sleeve of the saddle bag over the fuel tank that showed the major power lines, because that was the only recognizable visible feature to navigate off.  Between the map, the odometer, and the sun in the clear sky above eventually I orientated my way out of the ground blizzard.  

[=DROOPY=]

On 10/14/2024 at 12:52 AM, draconus said:

There's a reason power lines are shown on every detailed military aircraft map.

I really*really* hope that you are not implying that my friends are dead because they were too stupid to look at a line on a paper map. 

Please explain yourself. 

[draconus]

9 minutes ago, =DROOPY= said:

I really*really* hope that you are not implying that my friends are dead because they were too stupid to look at a line on a paper map.

Idk, was the line on the map and they didn't look?

[Dragon1-1]

Power lines are supposed to be on every detailed map. Theory and reality coincide most of the time, but sometimes they do not, particularly when infrastructure has recently been added or removed. There are ways to mitigate it, but they don't always catch everything. Power lines are particularly insidious because while the pylons are plenty visible (and in fact, great landmarks to navigate by, if not using GPS), the wires themselves are not. This is a good reason not to get too low over roads, too, because power lines often follow them.

[=DROOPY=]

1 hour ago, draconus said:

Idk, was the line on the map and they didn't look?

I highly doubt it, based on the crews experience level, but...what if it was? I wasn't privvy to the results of the accident investigation.

Dude... Please... I'm trying really hard to give you the benefit of doubt because so many arguments stem from how a statement is perceived, rather than how it was implied.And I know you are better than that. Help me out here.

 @Dragon1-1 Exactly. 

[draconus]

8 minutes ago, =DROOPY= said:

I'm trying really hard to give you the benefit of doubt because so many arguments stem from how a statement is perceived, rather than how it was implied.

Idk what do you expect. First it looked like some provocation but my answer didn't trigger you enough, so no fun this time. The real answer is I wasn't implying anything, just stating obvious fact that power lines are usually on the tactical maps because they are important either for flight safety or as a nav points, that's it. How would I know why the accident happened? Sorry for your loss.

[Nodak]

It's not just power lines, the remotest abandoned cabin should also be marked as a structure.  These maps in my old MAC days were always under plexiglass on the flight planning table or on a rack at ops for use before you hit your route.  Only the Navigator might actually pull one out during the flight, that is if a navigator was actually mission required and seated on board.  More a route planning tool than anything, once your up you rely on the five sets Mk1 eyeballs, the map just gives you an advanced heads up before you ever lift wheels on what's out there to watch out for. 

[=DROOPY=]

37 minutes ago, draconus said:

Idk what do you expect. First it looked like some provocation but my answer didn't trigger you enough, so no fun this time. The real answer is I wasn't implying anything, just stating obvious fact that power lines are usually on the tactical maps because they are important either for flight safety or as a nav points, that's it. How would I know why the accident happened? Sorry for your loss.

I actually don't expect anything, other than for you to respect other's, and myself, the way you want to be respected. 

I actually looked at your initial response and opted to sit on it and give serious thought on how to respond, because after all, you're a (hopefully) decent human being on the other end of this conversation, and had I immediately responded to what my initial interpretation was....well...that would not have ended well. 

With that said, thank you for your condolences. They are appreciated.