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[ronnyd]

The vid just after the linky was very good.

Yes, but I don't believe the assertion that the fuel evaporates and disappears.  It goes somewhere, probably helps form a cloud and then comes down in the rain. Nice! 

You could well be right, but the fighter with it,s arse on fire was impressive.

[Sir Tigger KC]

The vid just after the linky was very good.

Yes, but I don't believe the assertion that the fuel evaporates and disappears.  It goes somewhere, probably helps form a cloud and then comes down in the rain. Nice! 

You could well be right, but the fighter with it,s arse on fire was impressive.

 

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, but I don't believe the assertion that the fuel evaporates and disappears.  It goes somewhere, probably helps form a cloud and then comes down in the rain. Nice! 

It's probably better than the alternative, which might well be fuel, along with bits of aircraft and passenger, coming down like rain.

[LC0112G]

Dumping fuel can provide some airshow highlights....

[Entwood]

Dumping fuel can provide some airshow highlights....

Although impressive at an airshow, this is not actually "fuel dumping", which is a procedure done purely to reduce weight, and the fuel is NOT ignited as the pilot usually has more on his mind if a jet is trying to reduce weight in a hurry ! This is a deliberate design feature from some years back when the vast majority of air-to-air missiles were of the "heat seeking" (IR) variety... the idea being you squirt out a small burst of fuel, hit the afterburner to a) ignite it, b) accelerate away very quickly, so leaving a small "lump" of superheated air, with a VERY high IR signature, behind you whilst you move away..... the heat seeking missile heads to the lump of superheated air, not you, and you escape its intent. This was seen as a lighter, more efficient protection system than kitting out an aircraft with the ability of firing decoy flares, which are limited in number and quite heavy.

Modern missiles are rarely heat seeking but usually radar guided, so this is "old tech" now .... but still has a "Wow" factor at the airshow, when the flame is kept alight far longer than required !!