"Rich Lemert" wrote in message
k.net...
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.

Depends on how close you are to the volcano. If you are more than a couple
miles away it won't be that hot inside the ash cloud.