der Mouse wrote: >> Or it produces nailbiters like this one: > >> http://www.wadenelson.com/gimli.html > > It's a very interesting story, to be sure, but I'm having trouble > seeing the error. It says > > [...] each time using 1.77 pounds/liter as the specific gravity > factor. [...] The factor the refuelers and the crew should > have used on the brand new, all-metric 767 was .8 kg/liter of > kerosene. > > But 1.77 pounds/liter is the same as .8 kg/liter, to within something > like a third of a percent. Perhaps it's just bad reporting and/or > writing, but I'm having trouble seeing the error. >
They calculated alright but then entered the pound number into the fuel clocking system of the aircraft. Since Canada had (officially) converted to metric the new aircraft was delivered with metric firmware so the 767 assumed this to be kilograms. But a pound ain't a kilogram, so ... I guess the fuel clock showed plenty of fuel when things went phut ... shhhhhh. AFAIU the make-shift system in the 767 calculates the fuel flow from engine sensors and keeps subtracting that from the entered total. Assuming this entered total was kilograms. Probably they should have never taken off with a non-functional FQI system. An added circumstance was most likely that nearly all the other (older) aircraft were non-metric. I've been on one flight on a 767 when an engine went phut about an hour before reaching the Belgian coast, something had gone kaputt in there. That left only on engine to fly on. Even some of the stewardesses turned pale, the whole Frankfurt airspace was cleared for us (that alone is no small feat) and all the ambulances and firetrucks they could muster could be seen on the ground. Just as a precaution they said. But the pilot greased her on very professionally, right on the numbers. Had to, because he could not use the thrust reverser to slow down. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list [email protected] http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
