Question for HiTech/Pyro, Please respond, Please.

[funked]

 edit

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 05-15-2001).]

[mora]

I think that 109 is the only fighter that doesn't fly with 1/2 wing missing. Even B17 is flyable if you shut down engines from the other wing.

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mora
Lentolaivue 34

[This message has been edited by mora (edited 05-15-2001).]

[Lephturn]

From what I can see, the only arbitrary part would be how the wing is sectioned.

Ok, lets say HT models the wing in two sections.  Each section has lift, drag, etc. forces put in the FM for it.  Now all that happens when you lose a "wing tip" is that outer section gets removed.  The lift, drag, etc. from that bit gets removed also.  Depending on how long that piece was, and how the wing was shaped, the plane will fly differently missing that bit.  In some planes that outside section may be a greater percentage of the lift than in others, so some will still be able to fly, while others will not.  I believe HTC just removes the section and the forces it generates from the FM, and let the chips fall where they may.

So I don't believe the effect is arbitrary at all.  The only arbitrary part, (and HTC may very well have some means to determine this so it may not be arbitrary at all) may be where you draw the line between the sections.  Once you do that and apply the different forces, when the outer section gets removed, so do the forces that went with it.  Simple.

Now, I want to make it clear I don't REALLY know how this works.  I'm taking a shot at how I think it MIGHT work here.  The effects I see do seem to support my guess though.  

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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer

A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com

Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome for AH articles and training info!

[eskimo]

I think one of the biggest problems is that planes missing 1/2 wings can still fly at top speed.  I remember once chasing a N1K that was missing 1/2 a wing, couldn't catch him with a Typhoon!

Wouldn't such unequal wing lengths create enough yaw to spoil the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft?  At least enough to slow it down noticeably?

I have escaped many fights in 1/2 winged hogs.  I have also gotten kills in 1/2 winged hogs and been killed by 1/2 winged hogs.

eskimo

[Asmodan PL]

u can lend in spit with half wing!
did that feww times, and saw some uthere guys too.

btw niki can go without 2 wing tips and still rtb home safe   using only rudder and elevators   that`s a B.S. in my opinion.

[Ripsnort]

HT mentioned in Blue text on Sunday that they were in the process of moving the line back on the graphic display of each plane.  I.E. you will see maybe a foot or two missing, not BS IMO.

[buhdman]

Hey, this looks like a good place to ask this question.  I was flying a P-47-30 last night and had a flap taken out along with a gun (this was the only damage per ctl-d).  Usually a missing flap does nothing to my ability to fly other planes, but last night it was all I could do to hold the plane level.  I was missing the left flap (could see a gaping hole where it used to be) and the plane was rolling hard to the left. Even full aileron trim could not level the plane.  I wound up flying on auto at about a35-40 degree bank to the left.

Has this happened to others or was this a "fluke" glitch in the numbers?

Buhdman, out

[Regurge]

buhdman, I think flap damage results in it being jammed in the current position. I've had the exact situation you described, where the plane has a pronounced roll even though both wingtips are present. I noticed that my flap indicator was permanently stuck at the 1st notch. When i dropped  1 notch of flaps the plane flew normally (i.e. the non-jammed flap came down and counteracted the moment from the jammed flap).

I've also had my right flap jammed at 1 notch and my right wingtip off. With the left flap retracted the plane (a d30) flew pretty well actually.

[buhdman]

Thanks, regurge!  Come to think of it, I was in a bit of a furball when this happened and I'll bet my flaps were down a notch and I never noticed.  That would certainly explain the behavior.

Thanks!

Buhdman, out

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Walt (buhdman) Barrow
(formerly lt-buhd-lite)
The Buccaneers - "Return with Honor"
home.earthlink.net/~wjbarrow