RAF Puma wire strike Morocco
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: "Sunny" Cornwall
Age: 51
Posts: 10
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I don't think those are wire deflectors. They look more like supports for the weight of that overhanging intake filtery stuff. Besides, any wire hitting them would ride up and over them and catch in that rather nice trap just below the "duck hatch". Also the front of the cab has too many other unprotected wire catchers, e.g. the windscreen wiper posts.
[Pedant] The "overhanging intake filtery stuff" is actually very light (an easy 2 man lift). In addition it sits on a set of rollers to allow access to the front of the ECUs and is rolled forwards on the photos. It normally sits about 12" further back as can be seen on the piccies of the South African aircraft. It will have been moved forwards to assist with the damage assessment.
By the way, the "duck hatch" I think you are referring to is the cold air inlet for the (incredibly basic) cabin conditioning system. [/Pedant]
I agree with your concerns about riding over (explained in my previous post). I think the (possibly flawed)theory was that an aircraft with both front-enders decapitated by a wire will crash while an aircraft with the intakes ripped off might crash.
It would have been so easy to fit cutters at the top of the deflectors
