🚀 go-pugleaf

ahennell [Wed, 22 Jan 2003 01:48:59 GMT] wrote:

>Marco Desloovere wrote:
>
>> I was wondering whether it would be possible to blow out the Canberra
>> fires using helicopters? Just like one would blow out the flame of a
>> candle...
>
>- Energy required to "blow" out a fire would be phenominal.

How much is "phenomenal"?
More than a couple of your most powerful helicopters?
If it cannot be calculated, then it's obviously a trial and error
thing.

The point is that if my method were applied *before* the fire gets out
of hand, then no phenomenal force would be required later.

I think that it might be worth a try!

>- Smoke usually travels with the fire - in the direction you'd have the
>choppers approaching from - stopping any visability

This could be co-ordinated from the ground using adequate electronic
devices, if really necessary.

>- Formation flying that close to eachother, and that close the ground is
>never a good idea at the best of times (SAS & Blackhawk?)

Indeed, and it would require some excellent pilots and also good
co-ordination from the ground!

>- Wouldn't produce enough 'wind' to make much effect

That remains to be seen. Big choppers can create quite a big thrust!

>- You'd end up, if anything, spreading fire more than putting it out

That is a possibility which could only be observed, if the operation
were tested in real life.

>- Heat of the ground will simply reignite anything you do manage to blow
>out

That heat would be much easier to control than a raging fire!

>- The energy of a moving fire front is simply massive.  These fires give
>off the equivalent force of many hiroshima bombs during their burn.

Yes, indeed. That is why my method should have to be used as quickly
as possible, to avoid the beginning of real massive fire.

>Nup, I can't see it working.

It may have to be tried on a small scale first, to see whether it
*really* doesn't work...

Marco