Gun sparks

[EnzoF98]

Love the new effect!

Although I'm curious, I've only seen footage from Hornets having these sparks. I get that it's obviously going to be more visible on the Hornet since the gun is right in front of you, but do other jets with the Vulcan cannon also produce these sparks?

If not, then what causes it on the Hornet? Shorter barrel?

[Razor18]

On other types (F-14, -15, -16), the muzzle is not in the front of your face, and there are also some slots for better air flow around the muzzle?... Can be wrong though...

[Gripen 4-1]

Look at Minute 20:02

 

[Razor18]

And what does it answer?

Edited August 8, 2022 by Razor18

[Gripen 4-1]

No answer - only wanted to show the effect in live footage. And I think it looks pretty good in DCS 

[Razor18]

Oh, I see. Original Question was wether other jets produce sparks too.

[Gripen 4-1]

3 hours ago, Razor18 said:

On other types (F-14, -15, -16), the muzzle is not in the front of your face, and there are also some slots for better air flow around the muzzle?... Can be wrong though...

But I agree with you. I think the F-5 Tiger has a similar gun layout.

There is a F-5 thread 

 

[EnzoF98]

49 minutes ago, Gripen 4-1 said:

But I agree with you. I think the F-5 Tiger has a similar gun layout.

There is a F-5 thread 

 

The F-5 doesn't use the M61 Vulcan cannon though, nor does it have the same sparks as the Hornet, so I don't see how it is relevant to my question.

 

Let me restate the question(s) clearly:

Why do the sparks appear when you fire the M61 Vulcan on the F/A-18C Hornet?
Do other jets with the M61 Vulcan also have these sparks when firing the gun? If not, then why not?

[razo+r]

34 minutes ago, EnzoF98 said:

The F-5 doesn't use the M61 Vulcan cannon though, nor does it have the same sparks as the Hornet, so I don't see how it is relevant to my question.

 

Let me restate the question(s) clearly:

Why do the sparks appear when you fire the M61 Vulcan on the F/A-18C Hornet?
Do other jets with the M61 Vulcan also have these sparks when firing the gun? If not, then why not?

If timestamp fails, skip to 2:04

[Dragon1-1]

On most jets, it's not visible from the cockpit, but anything that has the Vulcan should produce a similar shower of sparks.

[Jel]

Those Gats don´t have muzzle fire dampers like any ordinary rifle would. So yes, those sparky business is quite common, although you usually won´t see it as pilot. Most are built around the aircraft either on its side or under the fuselage to NOT throw the gases directly into your canopy. The F18 doesn´t care 

Or as a simpler way to explain: Have you ever peed against the wind ?

Edited August 9, 2022 by Jel

[SkateZilla]

The M61 when test fired outside of any airframe sparks. 
 

[Ephedrin]

Sparks usually mean that the powder burns slower than the bullet takes to leave the barrel. It‘s wasted energy and a bad optimization of load and gun. It leaves a dirty barell and increases the wear and tear of the gun. On the other hand a slower burning powder makes a softer acceleration hence less recoil and less stress on the shoulder or in this case the mounting of the gun in the airframe. However I simply guess that there are different charges from the factory and some burn cleaner and some make more fireworks, it‘s the same problem with every mass product. 
But that‘s grey theory. 

In DCS however to make a final point we normally use tracers and it‘s no big news that any tracer munition makes a firework leaving the muzzle (and  ruins every gun and leaves dirt and worn barrels) so I guess it‘s a give and take. Has anyone tried what happens with TP or ground attack load outs? It shouldn‘t spark THAT much at least. 

Edited August 9, 2022 by Ephedrin

[Harker]

Sparks usually mean that the powder burns slower than the bullet takes to leave the barrel. It‘s wasted energy and a bad optimization of load and gun. It leaves a dirty barell and increases the wear and tear of the gun. On the other hand a slower burning powder makes a softer acceleration hence less recoil and less stress on the shoulder or in this case the mounting of the gun in the airframe. However I simply guess that there are different charges from the factory and some burn cleaner and some make more fireworks, it‘s the same problem with every mass product. 
But that‘s grey theory. 
In DCS however to make a final point we normally use tracers and it‘s no big news that any tracer munition makes a firework leaving the muzzle (and  ruins every gun and leaves dirt and worn barrels) so I guess it‘s a give and take. Has anyone tried what happens with TP or ground attack load outs? It shouldn‘t spark THAT much at least. 

I never use tracers and it sparks the same, although I don't think it's a bug or a problem. If you compare it with IRL footage, it looks pretty good.

[Ephedrin]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb Harker:

If you compare it with IRL footage, it looks pretty good.

I guess they just don‘t care about a slightly higher life-time of an M61 barrel. It‘s a gatling gun, not a sniper rifle and if a 20mm round costs a dollar or just a few cents less than another one with an objectively better pouder or load it‘s much more feasable. Doesn‘t change the fact though that fire like that is never a good sign for any gun lol

[SkateZilla]

In regards to why you see it on the hornet and not F14 F15 amd F16.

The M61 sparks when firing naturally even on a test stand, barely visible though.

both M61A1 and M61A2 spark (F-22/F/A-18EF),

 

Theres 2 Gun differences, Between the hornets and other aircraft.

Position of muzzle and muzzle depth to airframe.

Hornet is directly in front of the pilot with a muzzle depth into the airframe of less than 6 inches. So any burning material is visibly ejected directly into the airflow in front and over the windscreen and canopy. Then vent system is also routed so that the airflow does not take any burning material with it, as the vents are parallel with the muzzle opening and barrel, so the barrel is already forward of the vent airflow.

F14 is below pilot, muzzle depth into airframe is around 12 inches, I'll have to double check, but I know its almost a foot from the tip of the barrel to end of muzzle opening, F-14 also has vents for the gun. so any material is vented aft, 

F-15 is to the side and behind the pilot with a vary shallow muzzle depth, in fact the entire front 6 is technically exposed to airflow through the large muzzle opening and vents.

F-16 is to the side and behind the pilot with a very small muzzle depth of about 8 inches, but again theres side vents that allow airflow through the the housing and take material aft.

[EnzoF98]

19 hours ago, SkateZilla said:

In regards to why you see it on the hornet and not F14 F15 amd F16.

The M61 sparks when firing naturally even on a test stand, barely visible though.

both M61A1 and M61A2 spark (F-22/F/A-18EF),

 

Theres 2 Gun differences, Between the hornets and other aircraft.

Position of muzzle and muzzle depth to airframe.

Hornet is directly in front of the pilot with a muzzle depth into the airframe of less than 6 inches. So any burning material is visibly ejected directly into the airflow in front and over the windscreen and canopy. Then vent system is also routed so that the airflow does not take any burning material with it, as the vents are parallel with the muzzle opening and barrel, so the barrel is already forward of the vent airflow.

F14 is below pilot, muzzle depth into airframe is around 12 inches, I'll have to double check, but I know its almost a foot from the tip of the barrel to end of muzzle opening, F-14 also has vents for the gun. so any material is vented aft, 

F-15 is to the side and behind the pilot with a vary shallow muzzle depth, in fact the entire front 6 is technically exposed to airflow through the large muzzle opening and vents.

F-16 is to the side and behind the pilot with a very small muzzle depth of about 8 inches, but again theres side vents that allow airflow through the the housing and take material aft.

Thanks for the detailed answers!

[Burt]

I don’t even notice it anymore and finally my eyes and focus are back on the dot. 

[hannibal]

I don't know guys, after patch 2.9, it seems like the gun sparks from the cannon are less pronounce