Is this F15 dumping fuel?
Author
Discussion

Trevatanus

Original Poster:

11,349 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Not my picture, I added to my Flickr to allow me to share.
Picture was on Facebook this morning, photographer reckon's he's dumping fuel.
1) Why would you dump fuel on take-off, 2) isn't it a tad dangerous with the burners alight?

Not my picture by Jim Pritchard, on Flickr

Neptune188

347 posts

206 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Pretty simple.


IanH755

2,767 posts

149 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
The F-15's fuel dump is at the wingtips. The pic looks like a leak where the pylon meets the wing, especially as it's on one side only, so my guess would be a failed seal.

AlexIT

1,687 posts

167 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
According to this site, fuel dumping nozzle on the F-15 is on the right wingtip:
http://www.f-15e.info/joomla/technology/fuel-syste...



and yes, dumping fuel with full Afterburners would be quite spectacular...
(F-111 with fuel dump nozzle between engines)


Krikkit

27,935 posts

210 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Is it the drop-tank seal that's leaking a touch? I'd say it's coming from that pylon.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Given he/she has the wick turned up and the liquid is aerosolised and in close proximnity to said wick, I'd assume it wasn't fuel due to the lack of flames.

Probably hit the chemical toilet flush button by accident hehe

grumpy52

6,050 posts

195 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Judging by the background gloom my guess is just moisture in the air ,concentrated and compressed by the aerodynamics ,the exhaust is masking the same effect on the other side .
It's quite a common sight on days with high water/air mixture ,usually just below drizzle conditions

dr_gn

16,924 posts

213 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
grumpy52 said:
Judging by the background gloom my guess is just moisture in the air ,concentrated and compressed by the aerodynamics ,the exhaust is masking the same effect on the other side .
It's quite a common sight on days with high water/air mixture ,usually just below drizzle conditions
If it were moisture, chances are it would be trailing from the wingtips and the ends of the flaps. Looks like fuel from the wing tank to me. Probably diffused enough not to ignite, by the time it gets near the exhausts.