Flight Engineer - is he necessary? :o)

[Flagrum]

Somehow I just wondered, why the Hip needs a flight engineer. In what situations are pilot and co-pilot so busy that a third pair of hands is needed?

[kontiuka]

Apparently, on larger or more complex aircraft, a flight engineer is required to closely monitor the aircraft's systems like engines and other critical systems that require close attention. Takes the load off the pilot and co-pilot.

[ff4life4]

I would assume that the Mi-8 cannot be flown by a single pilot IRL, right?

[TimeKilla]

I would guess it could be but it's not designed to be.

[eurofor]

Someone's gotta flip all the circuit breakers.

[Slazi]

Massage for the stiff shoulders? My flight engineer would be hot as hell!

[dahui]

Massage for the stiff shoulders? My flight engineer would be hot as hell!

 

 

haha xD :thumbup:

[Grim_Smiles]

The flight engineer has a very important purpose in the Mi-8. When I zip around the battlefield at tree top level with miniguns and grenade launchers blowing away mofos like Chuck Norris in Delta Force while chomping on a massive Cuban cigar lit for me by a virgin supermodel, the flight engineer is there to repeatedly whisper in my ear "Remember thou art mortal".

[number3]

The flight engineer has a very important purpose in the Mi-8. When I zip around the battlefield at tree top level with miniguns and grenade launchers blowing away mofos like Chuck Norris in Delta Force while chomping on a massive Cuban cigar lit for me by a virgin supermodel, the flight engineer is there to repeatedly whisper in my ear "Remember thou art mortal".

 

lol, wow!

 

Sounds like the supermodel is more useful than the flight engineer.

[AlphaOneSix]

It depends on the doctrine and procedures of the nation that is flying it. In the U.S. for example, we don't fly with a flight engineer, but we do usually fly with at least one crew chief in the back (not in the flight engineer's position). In Russia and countries who have similar procedures, the flight engineer actually has quite an important role: startup and shutdown of the engines, monitoring temperatures and pressures of various system, and keeping track of how much time is spent in each power regime, and some other things I'm forgetting.

[heloguy]

It depends on the doctrine and procedures of the nation that is flying it. In the U.S. for example, we don't fly with a flight engineer, but we do usually fly with at least one crew chief in the back (not in the flight engineer's position). In Russia and countries who have similar procedures, the flight engineer actually has quite an important role: startup and shutdown of the engines, monitoring temperatures and pressures of various system, and keeping track of how much time is spent in each power regime, and some other things I'm forgetting.

 

 

In the US, this depends on the helicopter. The CH-47 actually has a flight engineer, and in combat an extra crewmember to man the second gun. Same on the CH-53. Most of the time, though, these guys can't operate the engines, only the APU.

[AlphaOneSix]

In the US, this depends on the helicopter. The CH-47 actually has a flight engineer, and in combat an extra crewmember to man the second gun. Same on the CH-53. Most of the time, though, these guys can't operate the engines, only the APU.

 

When I said "we" I was specifically referring to the Mi-8/Mi-17. Besides, as you mention, the FE on a Chinook is not at all like an FE in the Russian sense.

[heloguy]

When I said "we" I was specifically referring to the Mi-8/Mi-17. Besides, as you mention, the FE on a Chinook is not at all like an FE in the Russian sense.

 

 

I guess I should have said "good" flight engineer...;) Anyway, you're right, they don't start engines, and it's the PC's ultimate responsibility for the other stuff you mentioned.

[AlphaOneSix]

I saw a YouTube video once of an Mi-8 starting up. The copilot was reading the startup checklist, the FE was doing all the work, and the captain was drinking a cup of tea! I'll have to see if I can find it again...

[Jona33]

I saw a YouTube video once of an Mi-8 starting up. The copilot was reading the startup checklist, the FE was doing all the work, and the captain was drinking a cup of tea! I'll have to see if I can find it again...

 

Owned by the British by any chance?

[VanjaB]

It depends on the doctrine and procedures of the nation that is flying it. In the U.S. for example, we don't fly with a flight engineer, but we do usually fly with at least one crew chief in the back (not in the flight engineer's position). In Russia and countries who have similar procedures, the flight engineer actually has quite an important role: startup and shutdown of the engines, monitoring temperatures and pressures of various system, and keeping track of how much time is spent in each power regime, and some other things I'm forgetting.

 

So basically they flip switches and look at gauges? ;)

[AlphaOneSix]

So basically they flip switches and look at gauges? ;)

 

Yeah, sort of like the majority of airline pilots these days. Anyway, the "Russian way" includes logging of a lot of different variables besides just flight times. The FE is responsible for recording that information as well. It's not practical to have one of the pilots doing it. Where I work, we simply don't record that information.

[Dr_Arrow]

even the Mi-24 has a flight engineer on board.

[Suchacz]

So basically they flip switches and look at gauges? ;)

Yes. But keep in mind, that FE has deeper knowledge of the machine than both pilots. And in critical situations he can act quickly without taking care of piloting, and vice versa - pilot can do this job without taking care of (for example) failing engine...

[lorenzoj]

Yes and look at the poor sob in the KA-50. I know that there is a lot of computer assistance available but still you have one person dealing with flying, navigation, engine management, weapons system and targeting, threat assessment and response...... Stress level has to be high at best

[Davis0079]

only thing stressful about the Blackshark is the lack of a cupholder and an ashtray.....its hard to steer a stick with your knee, hold a beer and light a smoke all at the same time....that and the addition of a dashboard hula dancer would be nice since the backup ADI does'nt hold its calibration for more then ten minutes