Philip Sondericker wrote:

in article fT27d.3595$mS1.2578@fed1read05, BTIZ at
wrote on 9/30/04 7:00 PM:


that would be one heck of a thermal ride... if it weren't for the rocks...
and "cough cough" the ash..

BT


I was thinking about this recently, and I was trying to determine exactly
what the effects would be on a small plane flying into an ash cloud. How
long would it take for the air filter to become completely clogged? And at
that point, assuming the plane had a carburetor, what would be the effect on
the engine? Would the plugs become fouled? Would they fire at all?

Considering that a volcano almost brought down a 747 once, I don't
think a small plane is going to last long at all. Of course, the pilot
is going to have been broiled long before he has to worry about his
engine.

Rich Lemert