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Author
Clodfelter, R. G.
Title
Vulnerability of Dry Bays Adjacent to Fuel Tanks Under Horizontal Gunfire. Technical Report. March 1969-October 1971.
Coporate
Air Force Aero Propulsion Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
Sponsor
Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC
Report
AFAPL-TR-72-83, March 1973, 103 p.
Contract
F33615-67-M-5000
Keywords
aircraft fuels | JP-4 jet fuel | JP-8 jet fuel | flammability limits | aircraft safety | fuel tanks
Identifiers
gunfire; fuel system vulnerability
Abstract
This report deals with the relative vulnerability to incendiary action of dry bays adjacent to fuel tanks as a function of fuel type. Cal .50 API horizontal gunfire was the threat; a high level of simulation was achieved by having air flow external to and in the dry bays. The results of a wide range of test conditions are presented. The overall conclusion of the investigation was that JP-8 fuel is less susceptible to fire and explosion induced by gunfire and should produce less aircraft structural damage than JP-4.