Got me thinking..

[AznAnarchy99]

So im watching Behind Enemy Lines cause im bored and im wondering, what can a pilot really do if theres a missile on them besides flares, dropping fuel tanks, and flying around in circles for a long ass time?

 

[Jeff7]

Turn off the engines

Crash

Change the laws of physics

Hope the missile has developed sentience and then negotiate with it

 

[GMI]

eject and call it a day

 

[MrWizzard]

About the only realistic missile/jet part in that movie is the part where it blows up the jet. I am pretty sure if you can dodge it on the first pass its not going to be able to turn around and come get you.

But dodging it on the first pass isn?t easy either. So dropping tanks isn?t going to do anything except make you lighter. Flares is about all you can do throttle down and pull hard.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

So in summary your screwed when your locked huh

 

[novasatori]

you cant really fly in circles for a long ass time, missiles will have superior AoA abilities and superior thrust/weight and speed, so you pretty much have to lose it with countermeasures (flares/chaff) or outmaneuver it which becomes increasingly hard with modern missiles.

basically its going to be flares/chaff as your only choice unless you strike first, or avoid the situation in the first place.

 

[Goosemaster]

I vote for "change the channel"

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
I vote for "change the channel"

its on my computer =p

 

[dudeman007]

Originally posted by: GMI
eject and call it a day

Haha...how was your day honey?

 

[Sukhoi]

Why would dropping fuel tanks defeat the missile's tracking systems?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: AznAnarchy99

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
I vote for "change the channel"

its on my computer =p

capture the frame and photoshop the missile out?

also make your tits bigger....

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: dudeman007

Originally posted by: GMI
eject and call it a day

Haha...how was your day honey?

"it was pretty much a downer"

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Why would dropping fuel tanks defeat the missile's tracking systems?

Because Owen Wilson says so

 

[clamum]

Set yourself on fire and jump out of the plane with no parachute.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Why would dropping fuel tanks defeat the missile's tracking systems?

Maybe you could blow them up after they're clear of the aircraft to create a decoy heat source?

 

[novasatori]

Oh there are also laser based IR jammers iirc, currently installed on some helicopters and being deployed on cargo aircraft.

 

[Fayd]

yeah, i can see that now... putting explosives IN fuel tanks just for that emergency.


*boom*

guess we had another button presser blow up on the flight deck :/

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: Sukhoi
Why would dropping fuel tanks defeat the missile's tracking systems?

Maybe you could blow them up after they're clear of the aircraft to create a decoy heat source?

Thats what happened in the movie

 

[thirdlegstump]

I heard from a pilot friend of mine that if you throw a lit cigar out the window, the missile will go after it instead.

 

[Fayd]

brilliant.....

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: MrWizzard
About the only realistic missile/jet part in that movie is the part where it blows up the jet. I am pretty sure if you can dodge it on the first pass its not going to be able to turn around and come get you.

But dodging it on the first pass isn?t easy either. So dropping tanks isn?t going to do anything except make you lighter. Flares is about all you can do throttle down and pull hard.

Jeez, how long did the boosters last on that missile?
In the real world, even if it could orientate after the first pass missed, it would be out of fuel.

 

[slag]

I always thought they jettisoned the tanks for more manueverability.. shrug

What always works in the movies is to launch missiles at a rock wall and then fly towards it. Veer right or up or left at the last second and the missiles crash into the wall.

 

[novasatori]

I don't think dropping throttle is going to do much good in the real world.

your turbine and engine nozzle temps are still going to be high - pretty sure once the missile is on you, you want max speed to keep your energy and try to lose it through rapid maneuvering

also with current all aspect IR missiles they can pick out an aircraft from the sky just based on airframe temps and shapes.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: slag
I always thought they jettisoned the tanks for more manueverability.. shrug

What always works in the movies is to launch missiles at a rock wall and then fly towards it. Veer right or up or left at the last second and the missiles crash into the wall.

They are jettisoned for maneuverability. No way would blowing up fuel tanks create the same IR signature as correctly burning the fuel in a turbine.

 

[Vonkhan]

Chaff / Flares / Cutting edge IR tech