J.A. Nixon

An analysis of statistics of aircraft crashes shows that approximately 70 percent of the fatalities are due to fire. The fire hazards in a crash situation are largely associated with liquid fuel. These problems 'may be either minimized or eliminated by thickening the fuel. This paper summarizes work carried out under an Army contract (DA 44-177-AMC-387(T)) aimed at the formulation of JP-4 fuel emulsions which reduce the fire hazards associated with liquid JP-4. Two JP-4 emulsions (designated WSX7063 and WSX-7165) which appear to meet the study contractual requirements possess 99 percent of the fuel value associated with JP-4; they reduce the rate at which combustible vapors are released; they have yield stresses which will retard flow through a tank puncture; they are stable over the temperature range of -20 F to 130 F (WSX-7165 is stable over the range of -65 F to 160 F); and they are compatible with aircraft materials of construction. WSX-7165 is being made in 1000-gal batches and it is under evaluation by various engine manufacturers. The fuel has also been tested in several simulated crash situations and the results were quite favorable.

Ronald B. Pope

The surfaces of many entry vehicles, such as the cone frustum afterbody of the Apollo vehicle are exposed to heating rates that do not exceed 200 w/m. Proposed missions where entry vehicles will have similar low heating environments include “out-of-orbit” probes into Mars and the upper surfaces of some lifting entry bodies. Nevertheless, these heating environments are sufficiently severe that ablative heat protection is attractive, provided that the ablative material 1) produces a char for radiating energy from the surface, 2) has a low thermal conductivity to minimize heat conducted to the vehicle structure, 3) has a low density to minimize heat shield weight, and 4) is sufficiently strong to preclude damage before entry and can resist surface remodel by oxidation of shear during entry. Many available ablative materials satisfy all but the low-density requirement (e.g. see Ref 1).

John F. Marcy

o conduct studies and tests on the thermal characteristics of combustible materials which may be related to the tendency of organic materials to “flash fire” when heated in a closed environment such as an aircraft cabin.

John F. Marcy

To prevent comparative flame-spread index data from several different laboratories on the same materials using the radiant Panel Test Appartus.

Trans World Airlines - Mid-Continent International Airport

The proposal system meets all the requirements noted in the TWA specification of the referenced letter request. Fenwal specifications SK-5552 CARGO-MAIN CABIN FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM, is a part of this proposal and describes the system, specifies functions and outlines environmental criteria.