Question about the engines

[Kosta]

Hello Hind pilots!

 

Today I was doing a mission where I start, refuel and rearm in an improvised FARP. After rearming for the 2nd or 3rd time I realized I didn't had enough  power for a vertical take off as I did in the previous ones.

 

Is it simulated the wear/damage from dust to the engines? Asking it because I know 100% I did not turn on the dust filter switch at any time.

- If is true, is there any way to see the damage or the loss of performance in the gauges? Or can you see it in the track file as some sort of "telemetry"?  (I forgot to save the track this time)

- And do you have to turn on the filter in EVERY type of airfield or FARP (even if you don't see dust blowing out)?

 

[Raffi75]

The general rule is that PZU is turned on every time you take off and land. I don't know if engine damage from dust is implemented and if so what effect it has on engine wear. I don't have a problem with that because I always turn PZU on.

 

What was your weight before take off? What was the ambient temperature? All of that has an effect.

[Flappie]

Ensure your helicopter is facing wind when taking off.

To my knowledge, DCS does not simulate wear/damage from dust to the engines (well, not yet ).

EDIT: 

 

Edited April 1 by Flappie

[admiki]

I had few instances where sitting on the ground, I would get engine vibration warning and almost imediately engine fire.

Some of them where on paved surfaces, some in the field.

But, those were really rare and I never could identify what triggers it.

Is it possible you got some battle damage?

[Kosta]

9 hours ago, Raffi75 said:

What was your weight before take off? What was the ambient temperature? All of that has an effect.

Iirc around 25000lbs, I would assume is recommended to do a running take off at with that weight. I will pay more attention to the ambient temps, thank you!

 

6 hours ago, Flappie said:

To my knowledge, DCS does not simulate wear/damage from dust to the engines (well, not yet ).

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know!

 

6 hours ago, admiki said:

Is it possible you got some battle damage?

That's most likely what happened here and I didn't realized I had damage.

[Weta43]

On 3/31/2025 at 7:42 PM, Flappie said:

To my knowledge, DCS does not simulate wear/damage from dust to the engines (well, not yet ).

Ensure your helicopter is facing wind when taking off.

I thought ED's helicopters had since the days of Black Shark 1

[Flappie]

1 hour ago, Weta43 said:

I thought ED's helicopters had since the days of Black Shark 1

I trust you. Ice-related failure, I knew. Dust-related failure, I didn't.

@Kosta  I stand corrected.

[AeriaGloria]

On 3/30/2025 at 7:57 PM, Kosta said:

Hello Hind pilots!

 

Today I was doing a mission where I start, refuel and rearm in an improvised FARP. After rearming for the 2nd or 3rd time I realized I didn't had enough  power for a vertical take off as I did in the previous ones.

 

Is it simulated the wear/damage from dust to the engines? Asking it because I know 100% I did not turn on the dust filter switch at any time.

- If is true, is there any way to see the damage or the loss of performance in the gauges? Or can you see it in the track file as some sort of "telemetry"?  (I forgot to save the track this time)

- And do you have to turn on the filter in EVERY type of airfield or FARP (even if you don't see dust blowing out)?

 

As others have said, it could be dust related. But check that temperature is not below 0 during flight, ice damage is cumulative. Even 5-10 minutes of flying in sub zero temps without anti icing will cause cumulative ice damage. 
 

It takes up 15-17% power, so you may need to quickly disable it in tough spots like landing takeoff or emergencies. A few minutes is fine. 
 

There is no gauge to check damage, however your EPR gauge is directly telling you how much torque the engines are putting out corrected for temperature and altitude. Get used to checking EPR when at cruise (8-11 degrees collective) and such and you will quickly notice when it’s too low. 
 

There is also no benefit to flying with rotor rpm between 87-91%, the governor commands full engine power at 92% rpm with default settings. 

[Kosta]

Ok noted, will keep an eye for the dust, lucky I have some free buttons to assign the dust filter and I don't think I will forget to turn it on/off

 

Many thanks for all the tips!

Edited April 2 by Kosta

[AeriaGloria]

Yea, dust filter will visibly use up 2.5% thrust or so