A question on durability

[Saxman]

I ran across this photograph while researching a skin. This aircraft was destroyed during a landing accident after an air strike when the bomb failed to release. After returning to the field, the pilot touched down successfully but the impact jarred his bomb loose. It struck the ground and bounced up to lodge in the rear fuselage where it exploded. The pilot, who's name appears in the photo credit, survived the accident.

What's surprising to me, is despite the fact a bomb exploded INSIDE the rear fuselage and that the aircraft is pretty much a total loss, the fuselage itself is still rather intact.

I was curious if this may be any reflection of a given airframe type's ability to withstand enemy fire, and if it IS, why our F4U in the game breaks apart so easily (referring mainly to the rear fuselage separating from the front, and loss of vertical and horizontal stabs).

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

There's a P-47 incident like that as well, maybe more than one. Amazing, ain't it?

[hubsonfire]

Well, it looks like this one might  be missing a few panels from the tail section as well.

Pretty damned good luck for Mr. Irwin.

[Rino]

Got a bunch of photos like that...usually caused by a bomb departing the
aircraft on takeoff.  I just need to fire up the old scanner and find a host site.

[Stoney74]

How did the bomb arm with such a short distance travelled?  I've seen 500lb bombs detonate, and the plane would not have looked like that.  It would have been obliterated.

I'm thinking that's simply the result of the kinetic energy of the bomb hitting the aft fuselage, rather than explosive force.

I could be wrong.

[Anaxogoras]

We all know this is anecdotal evidence, and so far as I can tell, every aircraft in AH is capable of losing its rear fuselage.  That doesn't count as some historical claim; it's just how the game works and counts damage.  The v-stab and h-stab are vulnerable on all AH aircraft because they're not modeled to fall off in small pieces or chunks.  You lose some you lose it all.  Regardless, I've lost half an elevator before, which is worlds better than how things used to work in HT's earlier simulation.

[Emu]

Planes seem to lose their tails relatively easy in the game.  wouldnt mind some more damage breakdown when it comes to critical areas such as those.  nothing sucks more than outmaneuvering a hurri IIc, and as you come down from the rope, he lobs a desperate 20mm burst 800yd out that gets your tail.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
There's a P-47 incident like that as well, maybe more than one. Amazing, ain't it?

I think you are referring to this one...



Caption: This unfortunate P-47 was the victim of a 500 pound bomb which fell from its fuselage shackle and exploded. The pilot, Lt. Hallberg had been unable to release the bomb and was forced to land with it. Somehow, the safetywire preventing the fusing vanes from turning had broken. The result was that the bomb had armed. As Hallberg taxied across the rutted field, the demolition bomb fell off and detonated. Amazingly, Lt. Hallberg suffered only minor injuries and was flying again within days, albeit with the radio volume turned up considerably. If there was ever a testimony to the ruggedness of the Thunderbolt, this incident is proof positive.

My regards,

Widewing

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Stoney74
How did the bomb arm with such a short distance travelled?  I've seen 500lb bombs detonate, and the plane would not have looked like that.  It would have been obliterated.

I'm thinking that's simply the result of the kinetic energy of the bomb hitting the aft fuselage, rather than explosive force.

I could be wrong.

Bombs have fuzing vanes. This is a simple propeller-like device that is safety wired with copper wire. This wire is then twisted and attached to the bomb rack or shackles. When the bomb is released, the wire breaks and the vanes spin, which turns a screw and arms the fuze. If the bomb does not completely detach from the bomb shackles, the safety wire (which is quite taunt) will break. Thus, the bomb will arm while still hanging from the shackles.

My regards,

Widewing

[Stoney74]

Originally posted by Stoney74
I could be wrong.

And, apparently I am.

[Saxman]

So the question from my original post: How does this reflect on the aircraft's ability to take damage? If a bomb exploding inside the fuselage could leave the airframe mostly intact, how would this affect cannon fire, which has a significantly smaller charge?

[TUXC]

Originally posted by Saxman

I was curious if this may be any reflection of a given airframe type's ability to withstand enemy fire, and if it IS, why our F4U in the game breaks apart so easily (referring mainly to the rear fuselage separating from the front, and loss of vertical and horizontal stabs).

Well the bomb did separate the rear fuselage and take off the vertical and horizontal stablizers, so at least that's consistent with AH



It's just the nature of our damage model that makes it seem like some planes fall apart too easily. Your plane is either fine or broken, there's no in between.

For example:
In reality, getting your wing filled with holes from MG rounds would have an adverse aerodynamic effect in addition to possibly severing control or hydraulic lines. In the game, your wing is fine no matter how many hits it takes until the final bullet gives enough total damage that the whole thing comes off. I think that's what you see with the Corsair. Cannon rounds which in real life would blow a bunch of big holes in the structure get represented in the game as the whole tail assembly falling apart.