"John Carrier" wrote in message ...
"Ed Majden" wrote in message
news:kg0gb.28475$pl3.8704@pd7tw3no...
Some of you are jet jocks or ex-jet jocks. What can you tell me about
the practice of dumping fuel from a jet and the igniting this dumped fuel
by
cutting in your afterburners? Wouldn't this be a very risky practice? If
not, why would this be done?
SNIP:
I know of only one loss due to fuel dumping - a Boeing 314 Clipper off
Oahu, I believe, in 1939 or so. It had to abort after takeoff and was
dumping 100-octane gas and unfortunately flew in a wide level circle
and upon entering the cloud of gas-air mix caught fire and crashed. I
believe the crew was a Boeing factory crew and it was not on a
pssenger flight. FWIW all jet airliners that takeoff at a gross weight
higher than max landing weight have fuel dumping capabilitites. ISTR
the L1011 could dump 5000#/min. The F4 had to dump fuel to get to
carrier landing weight if it had to abort right after launch.
Walt BJ