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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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222 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

Fig. 6.15 <strong>The</strong> fuel system <strong>of</strong> a light turbine-engine helicopter. See text for details.<br />

contact with fuel. If a tank is pierced, leaking fuel contacts <strong>the</strong> compound and this will<br />

expand, sealing <strong>the</strong> hole.<br />

Figure 6.16 shows <strong>the</strong> fuel system <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chinook. This is complex because <strong>the</strong>re<br />

are six tanks, two main engines, an APU and a fuel-burning cabin heater. In addition<br />

<strong>the</strong>re is provision for pressure refuelling from a central point as well as connections in<br />

<strong>the</strong> cabin to allow long-range tanks to be carried internally. <strong>The</strong> fuel is carried in <strong>the</strong><br />

prominent side sponsons. <strong>The</strong>se cannot contain a single tank for a number <strong>of</strong> reasons.<br />

First, a long single tank would be dangerous because when partially filled all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

fuel could flow to one end and cause a huge trim shift. Second, a single tank would<br />

be vulnerable to battle damage. Finally, <strong>the</strong> front undercarriage leg and its supporting<br />

structure occupies some space in <strong>the</strong> sponson. As a result <strong>the</strong> Chinook has three tanks<br />

along each side. <strong>The</strong>se are not simply interconnected as if one were to be holed this<br />

would result in loss <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> fuel on one side. Instead <strong>the</strong> forward and aft tanks each<br />

have a pump which discharges into <strong>the</strong> main, or centre, tanks. <strong>The</strong> centre tanks have<br />

two pumps in parallel and valves ensure that one can fail without affecting <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.

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