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epiphiny43 -> RE: Why isn't no fly a denial of due process? (7/4/2016 7:33:15 PM)
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Hydrogen (H2) like any flammable substance, is only flammable when mixed with an oxidizer in appropriate proportions. Too lean or too rich, nothing. Edges of good ratio, not spectacular effects. People carry flammables, liquid or gaseous, in Containers, not in vague clouds onboard. Which would be Dangerous with unshielded old time switches everywhere arcing when used. H2 can be dangerous.
The Hindenberg fire was supposed to be a H2 leak and accidental ignition (they couldn't get He2, the US being the only source world wide, and embargoing Germany), maybe from static charge built up during the flight. More likely it was political sabotage, the Third Reich had a few enemies by then. Most fail to note, Most passengers got out and survived!
Gasoline is worse. WWII Avgas (And current car gasoline) is about as unsafe as fuel gets, other than corrosive stuff like the self-igniting (hypergolic) fuel used in control vernier rockets on large space launch vehicles. Hydrazine and Peroxide were used in the Nazi rocket interceptor, and later on early US ICBMs. Either one kills on contact if substantial. Together, a major 4th of July event.
The most powerful conventional explosive (Non-nuclear) air delivered weapon in the US arsenal was a gasoline vapor bomb, last time I checked. Delayed ignition lets sociometric air to fuel vapor develop over about a foot ball field area, then the ignitor goes off. Flame front speeds may reach several thousand meters per second in ideal conditions. Don't be there.
Long distance ferry flights during WWII, till today, are stripped down planes if necessary. Additional internal or external fuel tanks added when required. Pilots and responsible supervisors tend to obsess on the calculations. Planes are expensive, incredibly valuable resources in questionable outcome combat events, and air crew training often is more expensive in both money and time. Despite the scepticism bleeding over from political policy discussions and widespread use of 'reasonable doubt' tactics to confuse any issue, almost all technical personnel actually do know what they are doing, even Government Workers. Forgotten today, many of the long distance over-ocean ferry flights during the war were by female pilots, only now being allowed military honors burials in national cemetaries.
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