Another interesting airplane video

I knew I should flushed twice

 

Well, I'm still in the dark ages with a dial-up connection, so I haven't seen the video, but I can assure you, having flown the 747 in three varieties (-100, -200, -400) for United Airlines, there is no way for the crew to dump water in flight. Fuel yes, water no. Is it possible the video shows fuel dumping? The dump nozzles are on the trailing edge of the wingtips.

Gary

 

Its water all the way dude.

Makes you wonder about those summer showers...

 

Wow, that is insane. I doubt they would dump fuel like that?

--Dan

 

Dumping fuel is regular in the event of an emergency landing. Airliners cant land with full fuel loads...Here is a shot of an L1011 fuel dump.

Gary, Faisal is right about the fuel(?) coming from the underbelly of the aircraft. Could that be from the center tanks or do they go to the trailing edge of the wings too? The aircraft is a 200 I believe.

This video might have been from some sort of test. Otherwise I dont see any reason for a chase aircraft to be there and any reason for most of the flaps to be down at a high altitude --look at the pitch of the nose!

 

Yes, that has to be a major modification. There is no way a standard 747 can do that.

No, it looks like a modification to turn the plane into a water bomber. The liquid would not have been fuel, but water or other fire suppression substance. Aircraft cannot dump fuel that quickly.

 

Maybe this is a stupid question (temperature in the air, etc) - but wouldn't dumping fuel, if it were fuel in Faisal's video / pictures), risk ignition due to proximity / surrounding the exhaust?

--Dan

 

Yes boba, that's why when actually dumping fuel, they release it in thin controlled streams towards the outer edge of the wings, as depicted in Jordan's photo. The forward motion of the plane forces the fuel instantly backwards and away from the aircraft. I suppose if you were dumping fuel, then decided to attempt a vertical climb, stalled, and fell back on yourself, you'd probably ignite the fuel.

 

I have seen the mighty F-111 have a fuel dump actually at the rear of the plane between the nozzels. In burner, the fuel ignites and leaves a flame as long or longer than the plane. Will try to find the picture.

Of course, I have also seen an F-4E do that, but that was due to a centerline tank fuel cap failure and fuel blown up into the engines aux air doors. Only time I have ever watched a crew eject in person. Especially memorable as I had originally been scheduled to be in that plane.

 

Great video. Thanks for posting. Did a little searching, and I think I solved the mystery: it's a specially-developed super-tanker for drops. From Evergreen's website:

"Evergreen International Aviation is proud to announce the development of an advanced multi-mission aircraft, the Evergreen Supertanker.

This aircraft, a Boeing 747 with 24,000 gallons of tank space on board, will offer the most superior drop capabilities, safety standards and operational flexibility of any aircraft on the market."

We probably saw a test drop. My guess is that it is indeed water that was being let out.

 

cool vid, thanks for the education! i cant imagine how much work the weight and balance sheet must take to get the flight charateristics to be usable with the weight of the fuel and the water in that aircraft. seems the dump valve is in the centerline , way aft of the normal Datum ( balance point ). the tanks must be under the center fuel tanks, or they modified the existing center tanks for the water dump. that means the wing tanks and balance tubes all had to be seperated!!! sheesh! i just do business jets, i hope to get to work on the big dogs one day!!!! i would love to get a close look at a 777 one day. ( since it so huge!)again, great video and thanks! michael

 

Fuel from any/all tanks gets dumped from the same nozzles at the wing tips. This is a fire fighting aircraft, as several others have solved by now.

Gary

 

Gary,

Random aside, but do you still fly for pleasure?

--Dan

 

Take a look at this F18.. the center tank fuel cap was left off!!!! Our Tax $$$$$ at Work.

 

I take it that F/A-18 Hornet was just taking off? I suppose the pilot ejected then?

 

James,

The Pilot did eject and it was at takeoff. If you take a close look under the wings there are bombs hanging from the hard points.

I guess not only did the pilot need a new plane he also needed a new flight suit.

Rob

 

Yes, went from a 747-400 to a 172

Gary

 

Gary,

Had a funny discussion when I was getting my PPL with my instructor. He indicated that he had taken a retired 747-400 captain out one day, because the captain wanted to get back in the air for a bit. They were coming in on final on their 172, when the captain -- used to the aerodynamics of the Heavy -- started to flare some 50 feet above the runway.

Guess it takes some getting used to, huh. I just thought it was kinda funny. Every happen to you?

 

No question about it. All your learned responses to sight pictures from the cockpit are screaming at you to start your flare at 50 feet. It took me a good half-dozen landings to find the ground in the 172. And I keep calling myself "United" on the radio at these little airports. Such a creature of habit.


Gary

 

It's legit...

http://www.evergreenaviation.com/index.html