Warbird Information Exchange

I have seen that stenciling on the Vintage Wings of Canada Hurrican Mk IV.

Mike

I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.

Changing the thread here slightly... when I was going through a briefing on the F-15E oxygen system, prior to taking a flight out of Elmendorf AFB back in 2006, I was told about a fatal incident in an F-16 flight experience ride, where the back seater accidentally turned off his oxygen. He panicked, and rather than simply pull off his oxygen mask to sort things out, he tried to find the knob to turn his oxygen back on... didn't do it in time, and died without the pilot being able to do anything to help. The guy in the back was an experienced, Air Force crew chief, or so I was told. I always wondered whether the guys were just winding me up, or whether it was a true story. Anyone know?

Hacker:
Your pix does not do you justice!
VL

I am only in my 20s but someday I will fly it at airshows. I am getting rich really fast writing software and so I can afford to do really stupid things like put all my money into warbirds.

It would make sense that the Hurricane would have a statement to that effect on the cockpit exterior by the way, as there were a number of cases during the war (and subsequently) where pilots were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes, passed out and died in the subsequent crashes.

There was a clear need from the engineering point of view, and also from the pilot and operations point of view, for accurate real-time data throughout the aircraft's flight.
...
Pi Research in Cambridge, a world leading company in digital data acquisition developed a compact flight data recorder system for the Spitfire, as a type, in collaboration with HFL. Griffon powered Spitfire Mk.XIV RN201 was the first aircraft fitted with the system, with the 'black boxes' located in the rear fuselage.

... and finally the prototype version was fitted with a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) sensor to monitor cabin air quality, with some very interesting results.

The pilots of the Griffon powered Spitfires had occasionally complaining of feeling nauseous, and there had been concerns over fumes in the cockpit since the first days of Spitfire operations back in the 1930s. The dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning are well known, but the operating strategies and build quality of the aircraft were essentially the same as they always had been, and those operating methods had been developed empirically to general satisfaction. Was there new evidence to be found? John takes up the story: "As is normal we were taxiing the aircraft out, and ground running with the canopy open to avoid capturing any fumes in the cockpit. In flight, the oxygen mask would be worn and in use, but it wasn't regarded as necessary on the ground, the open flow of air having always been regarded as good enough. But the measurement of the CO2 in the new equipment installed in RN201 was throwing up some worrying part per million readings. Obviously we started looking a lot harder at the operation of the machine. On the ground we found that the exhaust gasses were being blown into the cockpit when taxing downwind - the local airflow blowing the gas back into the open cockpit. For instance, in a five minute taxi, the carbon monoxide intake by the pilot was way over the parts per million that would be allowable for a maximum daily dose. Naturally this information and recommended procedures were shared within the industry." As they say, it's never too late to learn.