Question: Damaged Wing Functionality

[Kageseigi]

I'm curious. There is the famous 1-winged F-15 story. But for the F-14, what happens in the event of one wing taking damage?

I know there were test aircraft that flew with asymmetrical wing positions. I've also read somewhere (though I don't know the authenticity) of mid-air collisions that damaged one wing, so the computer compensated by sweeping the other wing, and the aircraft survived.

Are there any documented cases of that happening? And if so, are such things modeled in DCS?

Thanks!

[9thHunt]

If I recall correctly, because of the way the wing sweep mechanism is designed, it is extremely unlikely that they would get stuck asymmetric.  In testing, they literally had to rig the aircraft in that configuration on the ground.

[Naquaii]

On 8/23/2023 at 8:24 AM, Kageseigi said:

I'm curious. There is the famous 1-winged F-15 story. But for the F-14, what happens in the event of one wing taking damage?

I know there were test aircraft that flew with asymmetrical wing positions. I've also read somewhere (though I don't know the authenticity) of mid-air collisions that damaged one wing, so the computer compensated by sweeping the other wing, and the aircraft survived.

Are there any documented cases of that happening? And if so, are such things modeled in DCS?

Thanks!

The wing sweep mechanism wasn't designed for assymetric sweep at all. The computer could only control wing sweep for both, not individually.

The test with the assymetric sweep was mechanically modified to even allow for it.

[Kageseigi]

Thank you. I believe my original question was poorly worded. In the case of one wing becoming damaged (such as losing a part of it from a collision), was the computer programmed to sweep both wings (the undamaged one along with the remains of the damaged one) back in order to stabilize/balance the aircraft?

[near_blind]

The computer almost certainly has no idea whether or not a wing is missing. In the case of this happening the crew would almost certainly put the wings into emergency sweep and plant them forward. 

[Naquaii]

On 8/26/2023 at 2:18 AM, Kageseigi said:

Thank you. I believe my original question was poorly worded. In the case of one wing becoming damaged (such as losing a part of it from a collision), was the computer programmed to sweep both wings (the undamaged one along with the remains of the damaged one) back in order to stabilize/balance the aircraft?

No, like near_blind mentioned above the computer wasn't smart enough for that. It'd have to be manually set then.

[Kageseigi]

On 8/26/2023 at 9:06 AM, near_blind said:

The computer almost certainly has no idea whether or not a wing is missing. In the case of this happening the crew would almost certainly put the wings into emergency sweep and plant them forward. 

Wow, an amazing photo! Do you know the story of that plane? Did it survive?

[near_blind]

https://theaviationist.com/2013/11/06/f-14-damaged/amp/

 

Quote

The first photo depicts the F-14A BuNo 159832 side number 205 which on Jun. 29, 1991 experienced a mid-air collision over South Chinese Sea with another Tomcat, the BuNo 161597 side number 201. Both aircraft were from Black Lions of the VF-213, at the time embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and while the “201” crashed into the sea where the crew was rescued, the “205” was able to land to Singapore after loosing part of its right wing.

 

[JupiterJoe]

Is the fuel probe deployed in an attempt to account for the lack of drag from the damaged wing on the starboard side?  Better than nothing.  Pretty clever.  I doubt it was attempting to refuel under those circumstances.

Edited August 29, 2023 by JupiterJoe

[sLYFa]

Extending the probe is standard procedure whenever you suspect losing combined system pressure which was most likely the case here.

[Tomcatter87]

It also looks like DLC is deployed - not a bad idea to lower the lift of the remaining left wing.

[sLYFa]

DLC doesn't deploy with main flaps up. The spoilers on the port side are coming up since the pilot has to put in a good deal of left stick to keep flying straight. It's intersting though that only the inboard spoilers are up suggesting an outboard spoiler module failure while the combined system remains functional. This is a good example for why it is a good idea to not let your main hydraulic lines run through the wings but use an isolated system for the outboard spoilers.

[Tomcatter87]

16 hours ago, sLYFa said:

DLC doesn't deploy with main flaps up. The spoilers on the port side are coming up since the pilot has to put in a good deal of left stick to keep flying straight. It's intersting though that only the inboard spoilers are up suggesting an outboard spoiler module failure while the combined system remains functional. This is a good example for why it is a good idea to not let your main hydraulic lines run through the wings but use an isolated system for the outboard spoilers.

You're correct - forgot about the flaps.