Search Light

[MonnieRock]

Hello Everyone,

 

I must say, I am very happy with the UH-1H. What a fine piece of software worth every penny. My hats off to the developers. :thumbup:

 

Question:

 

Is there a way to increase the intensity and distance the search light will be seen?

 

Looking for something similar to police helicopters looking for perpetrators. Those spotlights are so powerful.

 

 

Seems there is a flat spot of the lighting ring out in front of the UH-1H. Will try to get a screenshot to show as an example.

 

Limitation to DCS World?

 

 

Thank you,

Monnie

[HuggyBear]

I'll look at it this afternoon, though the real searchlight isn't very powerful, certainly not as powerful as modern Police/EMS searchlight.

 

Will let you know.

 

- Bear

[todd022]

Monnie, I see what you're saying...but I don't think the searchlight on the Huey was meant to equate to the external/3rd party lights such as the Nightsun (LAPD's helos). I think it's a built-in spotlight to aid in field-expedient LZ's, and other situations where a directional-light is needed, but not necessarily expected.

[MonnieRock]

HuggyBear and Todd022,

 

Thank you.

 

Only hours I have in a real UH-1 was in the back :thumbup: So, I have no idea what the real search light candle watt power is.

 

 

Bring on the Nightsun to strap in place of the OEM search light. Follow Civi traffic like a high speed chase :D

 

Maybe a .lua somewhere that can simulate the Nightsun?

 

 

 

Must say, I really like instrument flying at night in all DCS modules including the UH-1H :joystick:

 

Really enjoying the UH-1H Sim.

 

Monnie

[Sundowner.pl]

 

Now this my friends is 1 million candle-power xenon searchlight, taken from M48 tank (with protective cover on) :pilotfly:

 

The modern SX16 Nightsun is 40 times more powerful :music_whistling:

 

If I remember correctly the standard searchlight, and landing light - both have not more than 400k candlepower at 450 Watts.

[HuggyBear]

Just checked the searchlight... and sim searchlight is better than the real one :)

 

It's a bit brighter and projects a bit further, though it is a little narrower. There could be a little more 'scattered' light around the primary beam.

 

Hope that helped. :)

 

- Bear

[MonnieRock]

Search Light Demonstration

 

Huggy Bear,

 

There is a line of demarcation that goes into another dimension of light and space. :smilewink:

 

On the photograph, the red line shows the placement of this demarcation. Everything below that line, the search light proves illumination from it's light sorce, above that line, it is gone.

 

On the video, to demonstrate this line of demarcation, I pitched the aircraft nose up and down in an oscillating fashion not moving the light showing the cut off point. Made sure the search light was not extended 100% so the bottom of the airframe was not blocking the light. This is at 100 ft AGL so the light will be bright.

 

Also notice in the video around 1:15 there is a set of buildings. When the nose goes up, the perpendicular side of the buildings are not illuminated Until they are under this line of demarcation.

 

Thank you,

Monnie

 

 

Edited May 6, 2013 by MonnieRock

[HuggyBear]

Ah, I see what you mean now!

 

That is incredibly weird.

 

Sorry mate, I have no idea what that is.

 

Excellent video to demonstrate the problem though.

 

- Bear

[Sundowner.pl]

I would believe that there is a sphere around the light source limiting its range so the game engine won't have to calculate something illuminated by let's say a landing light of something that is too far away to even see it.

[MonnieRock]

I would believe that there is a sphere around the light source limiting its range so the game engine won't have to calculate something illuminated by let's say a landing light of something that is too far away to even see it.

 

You can see the GAZ-66 Light Truck on the runways lights from a long way away.

 

I still think that line of demarcation is a little close. It is chopping off the light source.

 

 

Thank you,

Monnie

[shagrat]

Ah, I see what you mean now!

 

That is incredibly weird.

 

Sorry mate, I have no idea what that is.

 

Excellent video to demonstrate the problem though.

 

- Bear

I noticed that, too. Reason is the casing of the searchlight it is build into the belly of the Huey (look from F2 view). If you pitch the searchlight to much the body is blocking the light (or if this makes sense: You can't have the light illuminate anything through the Halicopter!) :huh:

 

If the searchlight IRL is mounted into the belly of the UH-1H, it is accurately modeled...

I would like to have a larger spot illuminated, though. It is a bit small to actually find or track sth on the ground.

 

By the way, there is the option to extend and swivel the LANDING light in the nose, also. That will do to illuminate anything in front of the Huey. :D

 

EDIT: Hmm, on second thought, that will not explain, why it "cuts" the beam when moving the Huey... at least that seems to be related to a setting how far out the light is rendered?

Edited May 6, 2013 by shagrat

[MonnieRock]

Huggy Bear,

 

There is a line of demarcation that goes into another dimension of light and space. :smilewink:

 

On the photograph, the red line shows the placement of this demarcation. Everything below that line, the search light proves illumination from it's light sorce, above that line, it is gone.

 

On the video, to demonstrate this line of demarcation, I pitched the aircraft nose up and down in an oscillating fashion not moving the light showing the cut off point. Made sure the search light was not extended 100% so the bottom of the airframe was not blocking the light. This is at 100 ft AGL so the light will be bright.

 

Also notice in the video around 1:15 there is a set of buildings. When the nose goes up, the perpendicular side of the buildings are not illuminated Until they are under this line of demarcation.

 

Thank you,

Monnie

 

I noticed that, too. Reason is the casing of the searchlight it is build into the belly of the Huey (look from F2 view). If you pitch the searchlight to much the body is blocking the light (or if this makes sense: You can't have the light illuminate anything through the Halicopter!) :huh:

 

If the searchlight IRL is mounted into the belly of the UH-1H, it is accurately modeled...

I would like to have a larger spot illuminated, though. It is a bit small to actually find or track sth on the ground.

 

By the way, there is the option to extend and swivel the LANDING light in the nose, also. That will do to illuminate anything in front of the Huey. :D

 

EDIT: Hmm, on second thought, that will not explain, why it "cuts" the beam when moving the Huey... at least that seems to be related to a setting how far out the light is rendered?

 

 

Landing light Extend "/ - RCtrl"

Landing light On/Off ", - RCtrl"

Landing light Retract "/ - RWin"

Landing light Stop "/ - RAlt"

[Razor18]

For Search Light, what is the difference between "Retract" and "Stow"?

 

Thanks

[shagrat]

Retract means move it back in, but can still be lit.

Stow means fully retracted into the belly and shut down.

[Razor18]

Retract means move it back in, but can still be lit.

Stow means fully retracted into the belly and shut down.

 

Thanks, I tried out both, and interestingly, after stowing I couldn't extend it again right away, I had to wait some time. What did I do wrong?

[shagrat]

What does right away mean?

Usually it takes a few seconds to pull the light up and stow it. Then you should be able to extend it again. You can see it when in external view (F2).

[Razor18]

What does right away mean?

Usually it takes a few seconds to pull the light up and stow it. Then you should be able to extend it again. You can see it when in external view (F2).

 

Looking at the belly on the outside F2 view, if you stow the light (waiting until it is flush with the underside), you will not be able to extend it again "immediately".

[shagrat]

Hmm, I'll check. I never noticed...

[Doum76]

Greetings Guys,

 

I know that default Huey search light wasn't as strong as Police Lights are, but, is there a way (even though this post is old and no one posted any solution, i post in case off :)) to make the Search Light stronger, or longer distance, so we can simulatre modern TAC operations?