Author Topic: Burning engines & damage control (Read 291 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** May 20, 2003, 04:17:30 PM »

Howdy,

Could y'all give some consideration to creating a damage control model? If my engine is hit and on fire, I envision that I'd want to shut it off manually and feather the prop with the result that my plane won't burn down.

If I'm in a twin engine plane and one engine dies, shutting it off in time should mean that the wing stays on longer, like in real life. There is no current method for extinguishing a flame, so it's time to bail.

This could be a low cost alternative to a full 'fire extinguishers' type model.

Best regards,

Chairboy

Kweassa · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2003, 04:59:17 PM »

Interesting idea!

Incidentally, how does the plane react to flames in real life?

If it is set on fire, then is it totally unextinguishable? Would turning off engines turn out the fire, too?

How about multi-engine buffs? I recall they had internal extinguishers in the engines?

BenDover · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2003, 06:40:57 AM »

I think diving to a certain speed (over 350mph?) would basicaly suck the fire away?

NOD2000 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2003, 09:27:50 PM »

yah there were plenty of incidents where a engine would be on fire on a multi engine bomber. they would turn off the eng dive down and put out the flames and depending on escort / attackers/ range they would try and resart it. As for singe seaters though..... i have no clue.

loser · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2003, 02:50:35 AM »

As far as I know, engines dont start on fire in AH. It is your fuel tanks that ignite.

So feathering the prop and all that other jazz doesnt really enter the equation as the damage model currently exists.

Of course that leads to the issue of self sealing fuel tanks and such, but that is an another debate (one that has already been raised many times.)

One point about diving out single engine aircraft: I highly doubt this occured much in engine fires in fighters. The heat from the engine fire would burn the pilot through the firewall long before the flames would go out. I think (not know) that most fighter pilots IRL would bail long before they considered diving out a fire on their engine.