flying below the radar


Red Rocket

GT Owner
Aug 31, 2006
410
Pacific North West
I am a car guy, but I like planes too. see this link http://www.glumbert.com:80/media/flylow

I know the Migs have flaps to close the air intakes on takeoff, so even if there is debris on the runway they are ok. Whereas US fighter planes do not have that feature, so runways are constantly scrutinized for anything that might foul up an engine. However, these guys in this video are flying right at the deck - I mean, just a few feet above crashing! At that height, wouldn't intake of debris be a problem for the engines?
 

FlorIdaho Chris

Yeah, I've got one.
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
British Tornado jets, no? They are actually high enough that F.O.D. (foreign object damage) is not an issue. The highest risk for this problem is very high power settings and very low airspeeds, i.e. spooling up for takeoff. As you might imagine, high power settings using thrust reversers after landing is particularly problematic since the reverse thrust blows debris forward where it can be sucked into the intake.