Feature change... request... thing, regarding pitot probe and battle damage.

[Frostiken]

It's sort of bothered me for a while that whenever you lose your pitot probe, the altimeter slams to 0 feet.

 

While the circumstances obviously would greatly vary, since altimeter is reading simple static pressure of a hose connected to the probe itself with no wizardry or anything else, shouldn't losing the wingtip with the pitot probe still give you a rough estimate of your altitude? Obviously if the tube is aimed into or away from the airstream, or pinched, or whatever, it would give you different readings, but 0 feet?

 

Anyway, just a small request to change the damage from losing your pitot probe to perhaps applying a random percentage of inaccuracy to your altimeter. I would imagine ripping off the whole thing would leave the tubes open to the airstream and while airspeed would obviously be kaput, altitude should still return readings.

 

<3

[636_Castle]

That's an interesting thought Frostiken, but wouldn't you only lose your altimeter if the static port was blocked? :huh:

 

Sorry, it's been a while since I've flown in DCS.

[Frostiken]

Even if the static port was *blocked*, it should be reading something besides zero feet. Even if we were to maintain the catastrophic failure, there's no reason for its behavior.

[636_Castle]

I'm not so sure...

 

From my knowledge, if the port is blocked, it would likely immediately revert to 0 feet. Since the altimeter is reading pressure, even SLP (sea-level-pressure) has a certain amount of weight to it. If the altimeter isn't receiving any atmospheric pressure, it'd only assume pressure was very low.

 

Since you're asking about the complete removal of the static port, I can only assume the altimeter would drop to 0 feet, since it's always looking for positive pressure. Take away positive pressure, and it won't have enough of it to give you any reading at all...even if it was a "rough estimate".

Edited March 11, 2012 by 636_Castle

[BlueRidgeDx]

@Castle,

 

A total blockage of the static source does not cause the altimeter to go to '0'. It would freeze at whatever altitude was present when the blockage occured.

 

@Frostiken,

 

Did you try setting the altimeter mode to PNEU? In ELEC, the altimeter is servo driven by the CADC, which may deem the static pressure 'invalid' if it's out of tolerance.

 

PNEU mode will cause it to operate as a normal barometric altimeter, and it will still operate as long as the static line is open to the atmosphere. It would likely be very inaccurate, though.

 

I've never tried it in the sim. Maybe it works?

[masterk]

Also, in a real aircraft, one can break the glass on the altimeter to restore function in case of emergency (blocked static port). Maybe this could be implemented in the sim as well?

[BlueRidgeDx]

Also, in a real aircraft, one can break the glass on the altimeter to restore function in case of emergency (blocked static port). Maybe this could be implemented in the sim as well?

 

That doesn't work if the cabin is pressurized.

[masterk]

I realize that, thought the a-10 cabin is not pressurized?

[Deadman]

From T.O 1A-10A-1 the A-10A flight manual page 1-59

I would guess the system has not been change during the A-10C upgrade

 

ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM

 

The environment system (figure 1-29) supplies

temperature-controlled air for cockpit air conditioning

and pressurization. The system also provides

service' air for windshield and canopy defogging,

windshield rain removal, canopy seal, anti-G suit

pressurization, and external tank pressurization. The

environment system receives bleed air from the APU,

external source, or from the engines. The airflow rate

to the cockpit is controlled by means of the flow

level control on the environment control panel. The

temperature controller automatically maintains the

selected mixed airflow temperature level. If the

environment system becomes inoperative, the cockpit

can be ventilated by ram air.

Cockpit pressurization is ensured by use of a canopy

seal system and a cockpit air pressure regulator.

Cockpit pressurization (figure 1-29) is automatically

initiated at 10,000 feet and is controlled by

the cockpit air pressure regulator. Regulator discharge

air assists in cooling equipment in the electronic

and avionics compartments. If the regulator

fails, a cockpit air pressure safety valve automatically

opens. The safety valve may also be operated

manually by selecting DUMP on the TEMP/PRESS

switch. Cockpit pressurization is powered by the

auxiliary DC essential bus. Cockpit altitude is

monitored by the cockpit pressure altimeter on the

environment control panel.

[masterk]

Hm. I stand corrected :thumbup:

Anyway, I might have nudged this thread off topic slightly, apologies.