H.D. Whallon, A.T. Peacock, L.D. Christensen

A previous study described in FAA Final Report No. DS-70-l examined the technical aspects of using gelled or emulidifed fuel in a DC-8-62 commercial jet transport and identified associated problems. This study examined the economics of jet fleet conversion to the use of 2 percent gelled fuel. Based on the technical findings, a DC-8-62 modification program was outline, costed, and analyzed. Based on the DC-8-62 analysis, it was estimated that conversion and operation for the ten years 1972-81 of all U.S. air carrier jet passenger airplanes would add about four billion dollars to their operating costs for the decade. This is approximately a 4.5 percent increase in total operating costs.

The following changes to Federal Test Method Std. No 191 dated December 31, 1968 have been approved by the Commissioner, Federal Supply Service, General Services Administration for the use of all Federal agencies.

Thomas Rust, Jr., Paul N. Boris

Tests were conducted to investigate fire test criteria as applied to flight data and cockpit voice recorder systems and material. Studies were made to determine the effect of elevated temperature on various types of recording tapes and highly conspicuous exterior coatings which could be applied to recorder covers. Open flaming and enclosed furnace tests were performed on complete recording units in suitable for evaluating survivability of flight data and cockpit voice recorders in a crash-fire environment.

American National Standards Institute

Thus method describes a procedure for determining the relative flammability of plastics by measuring the minimum concentration of oxygen in a slowly rising mixture of oxygen and nitrogen that will just support combustion. This method is presently limited to the use of physically self-supporting plastic test specimens.

Donald M. Millar

To determine their effectiveness as anti-itching agents, 23 hydrophobic materials were evaluated in a dynamic icing environment. Each substance was examined in a manner that would determine its ice accretion characteristics and ice release properties. No attempt was made to stimulate ice release by either thermal or mechanical means during individual test runs. Ice formed on all the materials, which were investigated at the same rate as on untreated aluminum wing section, which was utilized as a test bed. There was no observed release of ice due to aerodynamic forces associated with the test velocities (110 to 150 knots). The minimum ice adhesion force of any product evaluated was 1.8 pounds per square inch, with maximum values in excess of 40 pounds per square inch.