🚀 go-pugleaf

"Geoff Lock" <glock@home> wrote in message 
news:4e01716a$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
> On 22/06/2011 4:20 AM, DonH wrote:
>
>>    Volcanic dust-clouds?  Yes, we can understand that jet engines were
>> designed on the assumption of air purity, and intake of sand, volcanic 
>> ash,
>> or seagulls, doesn't help.
>
> Don't think it is a good idea to fly thru an ash cloud unless it is very 
> very light particulates - submicron level?
>
>>    But is that the only reason why flying through volcanic ash is 
>> impossible?
>
> Probably not impossible to fly thru and not the only reason but MIGHT be 
> difficult to keep the plane staying up in the air after that :)
>
>>    Would abrasive action on the fuselage erode the metal?
>
> Probably but I would think that the turbines would cop it as well plus the 
> ash would probably clog up bits in the turbines.
>
> Also additional weight from ash sticking to the plane? Changes in 
> controlling various bits of the plane?
>
>>    If volcanic ash clouds are to become a regular thing, then the airline
>> which designs an ash-proof plane will scoop the field.  Ash filters? 
>> Rocket
>> propulsion?
>
> Plus flying at different heights? Blimps? Catapaults? Flocks of large 
> African swallows? :)

# There was a retired BOAC captain on (the) 7.30 (Report) last night, 
recalling how his plane flew through an ash cloud over Indonesia, where all 
four engines failed.
   The crew didn't know cause at the time, but glided down, where, 
fortunately, the engines restarted.
   Landed safely; even though the cockpit windows were so opaque (due to ash 
abrasion) that visibility was limited to a couple of small clear spots.
   It seems Indonesia has lots of volcanoes, many active, so ash clouds are 
common.  Presumably, flights can go above, around, or below - or through, if 
not too dense?
   "Man conquers Nature!" or can ignore it, is the assumption of AGW 
Sceptics and Deniers, yet a little thing, like an ash cloud, grounds the 
mighty jumbo jet.
   Can aeronautical engineers design an ash-proof jumbo?