Explain Smoke to me

E

evapilotaz

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So how does a smoke system work on aircraft? I mean smoke trailing an airplane like they do in Airshows.

I understand its burning oil to produce the smoke. Is there a separate oil tank for the smoke system? If so how big and how much smoke running time does it provide? Does the oil enter into the manifold and blown out the exhaust? Can any airplane be equip with a smoke system? What does a typical system cost? How much does it weight?

Please do not tell me to go search Google. I will throw a virus your way. :yes:

Thanks.
 
There is a seperate tank (3 -10 gallons or more) with a pump on a switch. The pump pushes the oil into the exhaust system. The oil is burned off. A good system has "injectors" into at least 2 pipes so the smoke does not appear to "puff" out of the plane. To get good smoke you'll need to burn .75 - 1.5 GPM. I get the best economy and smoke around .8 GPM.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/smokes.php
 
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That would be cool

"looking for traffic"

smoke on

"traffic in sight"
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
That would be cool

"looking for traffic"

smoke on

"traffic in sight"
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Based on the events of the last week here at FDK, this is the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread. I would like to leave a light trail of red smoke behind me in the pattern from now on.
 
It does come in handy so traffic can see you. Also cool to buzz your buddies BBQ with smoke on! :D
 
Pedals2Paddles said:
Based on the events of the last week here at FDK, this is the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread. I would like to leave a light trail of red smoke behind me in the pattern from now on.
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Google glass connected to TCAS
 
bnt83 said:
Google glass connected to TCAS
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LOL. I'm not sure I could fit the equipment for a TCAS into a Cessna 150. And I think it would cost 2x more than the plane is actually worth.
 
Pedals2Paddles said:
LOL. I'm not sure I could fit the equipment for a TCAS into a Cessna 150. And I think it would cost 2x more than the plane is actually worth.
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Lots of pros and cons but you might try and pick up the Zaon XRX.
I have a love / hate relationship with mine but when in doubt, I turn it on.
It weighs nothing.
 
Pedals2Paddles said:
Based on the events of the last week here at FDK, this is the first thing I thought of when I saw the thread. I would like to leave a light trail of red smoke behind me in the pattern from now on.
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LOL. I can just see visibility going to zero on a Saturday morning, as half of the planes in the pattern are blowing colored smoke that hangs over the airport like a hazy, technicolor fog.

How will that get noted on ATIS?
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
LOL. I can just see visibility going to zero on a Saturday morning, as half of the planes in the pattern are blowing colored smoke that hangs over the airport like a hazy, technicolor fog.

How will that get noted on ATIS?
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HA! It is a self solving problem. When the patterns get saturated, that airport becomes IFR. Then people can't go there so the smoke starts to clear.
 
Geico266 said:
There is a seperate tank (3 -10 gallons or more) with a pump on a switch. The pump pushes the oil into the exhaust system. The oil is burned off. A good system has "injectors" into at least 2 pipes so the smoke does not appear to "puff" out of the plane. To get good smoke you'll need to burn .75 - 1.5 GPM. I get the best economy and smoke around .8 GPM.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/smokes.php
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That system is around $1000. Now the cost to install it by someone might be very expensive.
 
smoke is what makes all electronics work. Let it out and it stops working.
 
Is black smoke an option? That not only get you noticed, but probably get you #1 to land without delay too.
 
Pedals2Paddles said:
Is black smoke an option? That not only get you noticed, but probably get you #1 to land without delay too.
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I would guess not because of that but I'm sure you can dye it and make it black
 
Geico266 said:
The oil is burned off.
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Negative. The exhaust heat actually vaporizes the oil. That's why it's white.
Making it burn the smoke would indeed make it black, but it's more involved to get that to work.
 
What's the FAA rules on smoke in the pattern?

Wowie, I had no idea they were burning almost a gallon per minute.

I 'R' not aerobatic ... but that's next. I want to do it so bad. Love it. I almost bought a Christen Eagle. But I need training.
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
LOL. I can just see visibility going to zero on a Saturday morning, as half of the planes in the pattern are blowing colored smoke that hangs over the airport like a hazy, technicolor fog.

How will that get noted on ATIS?
Click to expand...

At $11 a gallon for the good stuff I doubt it would be a problem. ;)
 
I know a B-17 that used to push smoke out of one of the engines as part of a fly by. They had to stop because certain people kept calling the police department saying an aircraft was on fire and looked like it was going to crash.
 
Geico266 said:
At $11 a gallon for the good stuff I doubt it would be a problem. ;)
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Where do you find smoke oil at $11/gal?
The cheapest I can find is veterinary-grade horse laxative mineral oil at $15/gal at the local Attwoods store (redneck Walmart).
 
I wonder if propylene glycol would work?

PG (as it's called) is an ingredient in e-cigs.

Or maybe VG (vegetable glycerin) :dunno:
 
txflyer said:
I wonder if propylene glycol would work?

PG (as it's called) is an ingredient in e-cigs.

Or maybe VG (vegetable glycerin) :dunno:
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PG oil and vegetable oils don't make very thick smoke and it doesn't have much "hang time". Paraffin-based mineral oil seems to work the best. Used to be able to get concrete form-release oil (Canopus or Corvus oil #13) cheap, but those days are long gone... it's about $20/gallon nowdays.
 
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