Merged 787 Dreamliner

[Reheat]

I wonder if a military jet on full afterburner would burn fuel faster than dumping it?

Well, yea it would be faster in full AB, but the aircraft would also accelerate eventually disappearing into a black hole at warp speed.

There are several utube videos of F-111's doing what was known as "Torching" because the fuel dump mast was located between the burner cans and ignited the fuel... It's quite spectacular particularly at night. That is the faster way of all to get rid of fuel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JieWuez-_t8

 

[SezMe]

That was cool - especially in the context.

 

[BenBurch]

Or just burn it off by flying around for as long as it takes to burn-off the excess fuel, which is what he apparently did.

I like how the F-111 does it.

ETA: should have kept reading!

 

[LTC8K6]

http://avherald.com/h?article=4653cb10&opt=0

Passengers reported that all but 2 lavatories malfunctioned obviously as result of an electrical problem.

 

[Garrison]

Latest BBC article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23302722

Reiterates the statement that the fire was nowhere near the batteries but still noting on what it actually was and in the meantime the 787s are still flying.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2021456975_787firesourcexml.html

Looks like it was the ELT. Battery pack wiring pinched under the battery pack access cover.

So, not really related to the airplane itself, apparently.

 

[LTC8K6]

Nice to get some confirmation of the Heathrow fire diagnosis.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/us-ana-dreamliner-beacon-idUSBRE96P0AK20130726

Japan's ANA finds damaged battery wires on Boeing Dreamliner locator beacons

 

[LTC8K6]

It looks like these ELTs were sitting on the shelf for a long while before being installed into the 787s, due to the delays in getting the 787 into revenue service.

So, to have the proper 10 year battery life with the install, the battery packs were replaced with new ones when the ELTs were actually installed in the planes. This is when the wires were pinched, apparently.

This is why they can limit the inspections to 787s.

 

[Fitter]

And there are new issues. The FAA and EASA are currently working on new ice crystal testing requirements. The other major engine manufacturers are waiting for the requirements to be released before committing to the infrastructure upgrades but I have heard that GE is pushing ahead as their engines are the most (certainly the only ones I've heard of) affected by core icing problems.