WIX Archives
Re: APU and fuel spillage of Kee Bird
Posted by Elliott on Sun Oct 26, 2003 10:28:05 AM
In reply top Re: APU and fuel spillage of Kee Bird posted by Richard Woods on Sun Oct 26, 2003 09:42:05 AM
It's a really amazing story - I saw the nova documentary on channel for some years ago and bought the video.
I asked the question becuase there is a thread on the flypast forum right now and there are some fantastic pics of the aircraft which brought all the memories flooding back:
http://www.keypublishing.com/forum/showthread.php?s=4bc0a51c673eac6748b6fa307f84760f&threadid=16757&highlight=kee+bird
Sure, we all know about the fire, and they replace the many crucial parts of the aircraft in preparation fo rthe flight but how sensible is it to try and fly out an aircraft that has been subjected to all the elements for almost 50 years, not to mention the same number of freeze-thaw cycles?
I'm sure DG knew what he was doing, but still - an enormous risk?
: Hi all,
:
: I've never really understood this one. From what I've seen
: of a B-29, the APU is in the section between the rear pre
: ssure cabin and the tail gunners compartment which is anot
: her little pressure cabin.
:
: Surely they could have stopped the fire from destroying th
: e fuselage by closing the doors on the pressure bulkheads?
: You would suppose they have to be airtight to pressurise
: the plane. Then damage would have been limited to the tail
: section, which could have been repaired in a future attem
: pt.
:
: I do agree that in the first attempt, when the Caribou got
: sick, instead of spending time fixing it, it would have m
: ade more sense to put the fuel from it in the B-29, and us
: e it to get to Thule.
:
: Just my thoughts.
:
: Richard W