Aerial refueling in heavy fog causes MASSIVE sparking

beelzerobsays...

>> ^mxxcon:
should they even try to refuel w/ such sparks?! explosion...?


There's no risk. There's no fuel present until the aircraft are connected. Don't let the complete fiction of the horrid "Air Force One" movie fool you....

grintersays...

>> ^beelzerob:

>> ^mxxcon:
should they even try to refuel w/ such sparks?! explosion...?

There's no risk. There's no fuel present until the aircraft are connected. Don't let the complete fiction of the horrid "Air Force One" movie fool you....

Wow, that was a highly charged response!

AntiClimaxsays...

Most jet fuel, even if it was exposed to that spark, wouldn't combust. It's very similar to diesel in that it's hard to ignite without being aerosolized and compressed. Not to say it can't happen, but without those factors the reaction is unlikely to sustain itself even if it did get ignited.

Veteran truck drivers will freak out the new guys by throwing lit cigarettes in their fuel tanks when they finish filling and more often than not a lit match will snuff out if you drop it in diesel.

Boise_Libsays...

>> ^AntiClimax:

Most jet fuel, even if it was exposed to that spark, wouldn't combust. It's very similar to diesel in that it's hard to ignite without being aerosolized and compressed. Not to say it can't happen, but without those factors the reaction is unlikely to sustain itself even if it did get ignited.
Veteran truck drivers will freak out the new guys by throwing lit cigarettes in their fuel tanks when they finish filling and more often than not a lit match will snuff out if you drop it in diesel.


Absolutely correct. That's one reason I believe TWA 800 was shot down--not a fuel tank explosion like the cover-up says.

rychansays...

>> ^AntiClimax:
Veteran truck drivers will freak out the new guys by throwing lit cigarettes in their fuel tanks when they finish filling and more often than not a lit match will snuff out if you drop it in diesel.


Ugh, is that good for your truck? Clogged fuel lines?

AntiClimaxsays...

>> ^rychan:

>> ^AntiClimax:
Veteran truck drivers will freak out the new guys by throwing lit cigarettes in their fuel tanks when they finish filling and more often than not a lit match will snuff out if you drop it in diesel.

Ugh, is that good for your truck? Clogged fuel lines?


It will get stopped by the filter before it could clog the line... and I have a feeling those filters get changed way more often than in a passenger car.

bareboards2says...

From my ex-military pilot, currently sim military pilot trainer big brother, in response to this vid:

My Fuel Boom Operator Friend says the static discharge is no biggie, he would plug this guy and give him all the fuel he wants. He wouldn't let him close within a 1/2 mile without seeing him though. Once he sees him he will let the vis drop a bit more. He estimates the video is showing greater than 1/2 mile vis. Which means he would be closing on a radar return outside of the 1/2 mile point - skin paint only. The WX radar has to be off when he gets this close. Theoretically, the WX Radar might trigger a big boom.

I dumped fuel inflight in the vicinity of lightning once as we were in a world of hurt (Unsafe gear, no brakes, hydraulic leak all over said gear and brakes) - and there were no rules against it - and since I didn't blow up no new rules were written. This was my best opportunity to have my own WARNING in the aircraft manual - they are usually written in someone's blood.

I had an F-111 driver tell me the story about when he was frustrated with his wing man during a rejoin because his wingman couldn't find him in the weather at night. His dump mast was between the engines near the exhaust. So he hit dump, turned ff fuel dump, and then quickly went to afterburners. He claims the resulting fuel air blast could be seen with your eyes closed.

GeeSussFreeKsays...

Neato! I knew this thread had the could be a generator of information.

>> ^bareboards2:

From my ex-military pilot, currently sim military pilot trainer big brother, in response to this vid:
My Fuel Boom Operator Friend says the static discharge is no biggie, he would plug this guy and give him all the fuel he wants. He wouldn't let him close within a 1/2 mile without seeing him though. Once he sees him he will let the vis drop a bit more. He estimates the video is showing greater than 1/2 mile vis. Which means he would be closing on a radar return outside of the 1/2 mile point - skin paint only. The WX radar has to be off when he gets this close. Theoretically, the WX Radar might trigger a big boom.
I dumped fuel inflight in the vicinity of lightning once as we were in a world of hurt (Unsafe gear, no brakes, hydraulic leak all over said gear and brakes) - and there were no rules against it - and since I didn't blow up no new rules were written. This was my best opportunity to have my own WARNING in the aircraft manual - they are usually written in someone's blood.
I had an F-111 driver tell me the story about when he was frustrated with his wing man during a rejoin because his wingman couldn't find him in the weather at night. His dump mast was between the engines near the exhaust. So he hit dump, turned ff fuel dump, and then quickly went to afterburners. He claims the resulting fuel air blast could be seen with your eyes closed.

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