We had FJ-4Bs (1950s Navy fighters) on the flight deck dump fuel from the
rudder mounted dump pipe just above the jet engine exhaust at 100% RPM (no
afterburner), but the fuel flow was so torrential it never even ignited.
Such fuels have to be partially vaporized to reach the correct ignition
temperature to begin burning.

WDA

end

"Keith Willshaw" 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? On another newsgroup, this is being used
to
explain a photograph taken by a young fellow in the UK. The photograph
was
first explained to be the entry of a meteorite in the upper atmosphere
but
now this is not supported. Some are using this fuel dump ignition
theory
to
explain what was photographed. Your comments on this practice, if it
exists, would be appreciated.
Ed


The RAAF F-111's do this pretty regularly , I seem to recall one
did it over Sydney during the recent Olympics, that footage was
seen around the world.

As for why, well its pretty dammed spectacular is the main reason

Keith