discussion Before she was famous II

[Guest]

Enough talk about the film an update on the build......its coming along ok I think on this one I have tried to reproduce static discharge wires see whatyou think...

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[Guest]

Look pretty much like all the ones I've ever seen!

 

[wonwinglo]

Interesting feature there Richard,just a quick explanation here about their purpose for those that are curious,the static discharge 'wicks' are placed at strategic points of the aircrafts structure namely the trailing edges of flying control surfaces such as ailerons,elevator,rudder etc,these serve the purpose of releasing the build up of static in the aircrafts structure whilst in flight,this is also done wholesale as well via the graphite content in the tyres when the machine lands but in flight there has to be a constant release of static build up,static is not only the cause of radio interferance but can be dangerous as well if it builds up,to avoid the build up every part of the airframe is bonded,this means that the important parts are not isolated and thus act as storage compartments for the static electricity,through the complex chain the static travels until it emits out of those funny little wicks,they are made from braided thin wire and usually these days have a plastic coating except the very end which gets quite tatty,this can be trimmed during maintenance and once they get too worn are replaced.

When I was involved with aircraft engineering, we had numerous lightning strikes to our aircraft,this was nearly always on the top of the tail fin and took the form of a burn mark,there have been some serious cases of lightning bringing down aircraft over the years,it usually blows every electric circuit just as it can do on the ground to houses etc,most frightening if you happen to be up there in an electric storm.

 

[Guest]

I had a lightning strike once. No fun, especially since you are in the goo with instruments that have just been struck.. so now you're not too certain they're telling you which way is really up. Ended up putting the old dogtags up on the canopy rail handle (which hung right in front of my face). Then i knew if the tags hit me in the fac, I was pointed up, if they hit the dash I was pointed down. If they went left I was turning left and if.. well you get the point. Use that with the old barometric altimeter and vsi and it isn't too bad.

 

[Guest]

What happens if the dog tags fall down onto the cockpit canopy and slide off somewhere never to be seen again! I suppose atleast you'd know you where upside down then!

 

[Guest]

I believe the term you are looking for rhymes with daffy ducked!!!!!!!ain:

 

[Guest]

I eventually got power back and was able to fly straight and level enough to re-align my attitude gyro. The worse fear of the tags falling would be it getting stuck in some sort of control item like in a rudder pedal connection or the stick root. I hope I wouldn't end up anywhere NEAR upside down in instrument conditions!