JudgeOrlok Posted November 23, 2013 Posted November 23, 2013 The manual says under "In-flight Single Engine Failure" to close fuel valves to an engine that fails in-flight, presumably to prevent a fire. However, when I do this (say, after getting damaged by enemy fire), I feel like I lose power, and it becomes impossible to maintain level flight. If I don't cut the fuel, the RPM of the damaged engine holds at around 70% of normal RPM, and I can maintain speed and altitude. What keeps the engine running at a lower RPM after damage? Is this helping to keep me airborne, or should I cut the fuel anyway?
sobek Posted November 23, 2013 Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) Single engine operation mandates you to accommodate. It is paramount that you jettison all stores that can be jettisoned. Further you need to adjust the auto throttle of the remaining engine from normal to emergency power. Last but definately not least, you need to maintain the optimal speed, which IIRC is identical to optimal climb speed, don't know the numbers off the top of my head. What keeps the engine running at a lower RPM after damage? Is this helping to keep me airborne, or should I cut the fuel anyway? Most likely cause is that the engine runs much hotter after taking damage so the governor throttles it down. An engine running at a lower GG RPM will still supply torque to the rotor, so yes, it will help you stay airborne, but at a risk for fire. I'd say if you can safely limp home on one engine, then turn it off. If you can't, well, keep on the lookout for a cozy landing spot while flying. :) Edited November 23, 2013 by sobek Good, fast, cheap. Choose any two. Come let's eat grandpa! Use punctuation, save lives!
-MadCat- Posted November 23, 2013 Posted November 23, 2013 The checklist for one engine failure in flight assumes that one engine is entirely failing on you, not just damaged resulting in some power loss. As the engine failed anyway, it is a precautious action to cut off fuel supply, preventing possible engine fire or help fighting it if already on fire. I'd say, keep the engine running as long as it can, if necessary place the engine control levers in emergency and return to base if possible. Dropping ordinance actually is only necessary if you cannot maintain level flight with engine levers at emergency at 110...120 km/h (no less than 70 km/h), but yes it does make things easier in any case. As long as the engine doesn't fail entirely, keep it running and get home asap. If an engine fails without battle damage and given you have the time, you can try to restart it. Yet never attempt to restart an engine you previously shut down because of fire or battle damage! Remember: Always fly the aircraft first, only then deal with other emergencies! Many start dealing with the engine fire (or other emergencies), without establishing a stable flight attitude to begin with. A fire will not kill you within 30 seconds, crashing the aircraft when not focusing on flying first will kill you in an instant! Greetings MadCat Link -> Stateful button commands for many DCS modules
sobek Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 Dropping ordinance actually is only necessary if you cannot maintain level flight with engine levers at emergency at 110...120 km/h (no less than 70 km/h), but yes it does make things easier in any case. That is a strange thing to say. Why would you haul your ordnance home and strain your remaining engine more than necessary when combat operations for you are completely out of the question? Hauling all that stuff will damage your remaining engine more than not doing so. Vikhrs are comparatively cheap, unguided rockets are even a lot cheaper. Engines aren't cheap by any means. Good, fast, cheap. Choose any two. Come let's eat grandpa! Use punctuation, save lives!
-MadCat- Posted November 25, 2013 Posted November 25, 2013 I wasn't talking about combat exclusively. Compare the checklists for one and for both engines failure. The checklist for both engines failure will explicitly tell you to drop your ordinance (still only once you established a stable flight attitude), whereas the checklist for one engine failure doesn't. To be fair, neither of the checklists take combat into account. If one engine fails during normal flight, I don't drop my ordinance if I can continue on one engine or even am able to restart the failed one. In the midst of combat, well yeah, get rid of it and your a$$ out of there. Does it help ? Sure it does help in any situation, and I said so too. Sorry if I didn't clearly enough differentiate between combat and normal flight. Greetings MadCat Link -> Stateful button commands for many DCS modules
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