Fighter jets and FIKI

[xsbank]

Snork!

[720]

F-18 has anti-ice on the bullet nose and inlet guide vanes on the the engines. Windshield has bleed air for rain and anti-ice. That's it. Nothing anywhere else. It is all sourced from bleed air.

Fighter ops and capabilities set it apart from conventional aircraft wrt to icing. 32,000lbs of thrust and rates of climb in the 5 digits per minute mean that very little time is spent in icing conditions on the way out. Same is true for approaches, plan to delay the descent as long as possible and penetrate the layer fast.

For the most part, the jets aren't operating in/out of YYZ/YVR and the above is easily achievable.

[AuxBatOn]

720,

I am not sure what you are referring to with "Bullet Nose", however here's what we have (pretty much what Rockie said):

-Engine Anti-Ice. On the Inlets and IGVs. There is a detection system on the Inlets (a Caution will appear if it detects engine icing). Pilot selection to turn the engine anti-ice on.
-Probes Anti-Ice. AOA and Pitot-Static probes are heated automatically in flight or on the Ground with pilot selection.
-Windshield. 3 position switch: OFF, RAIN and ANT-ICE. Difference between RAIN and ANTI-ICE is the volume of air exiting the system. Normally at 121 degrees C IIRC.
-Speed. Increasing the skin temperature above 0 so that ice will not stick.

Our biggest threat is Ice ingestion in the Engine. With Ice presence on the Inlets, if it detatch, it will go through the engine, potentially making a lot of damage. I normally try to limit myself to 20 degrees of bank, less than 1.5G and 85% RPM to help the situation.

[frosti]

This subject came up in a conversation: do fighter jets have any de-icing/anti-icing?

I know that they can melt it away with friction heating, but it's hard to do a non precision pushing 400kts... not to mention the miles it would take to slowdown to gear extension speed. Especially with a quarter inch of rime on the canopy.

AuxBattOn (or others in the "RCAF"), please enlighten us on capabilities/procedures.


Fly Safe!
BP

De-icing is done with the proper fluid, just like at civilian airports, but as already mentioned, no anti-icing on the control surfaces. If icing conditions exist, hangar doors are opened and the jets are cold-soaked before they are towed outside. Fluid is rarely used and most of the ice or snow is blown off during take-off roll.

[SAR_YQQ]

De-icing is done with the proper fluid,

De-icing is also done in flight on aircraft, not just a fluid application. Anti-ice is heated inlets and pitot heat. De-ice is pneumatic boots (on other aircraft), hot wings, propellor de-ice and heated windshields.

Fluid is rarely used and most of the ice or snow is blown off during take-off roll.

This is a rather misleading statement, as there is no way any CF aircraft would use this method of ice/snow removal.

[frosti]

De-icing is done with the proper fluid

Fluid is rarely used and most of the ice or snow is blown off during take-off roll.

This is a rather misleading statement, as there is no way any CF aircraft would use this method of ice/snow removal.

We are talking about fighters here, not other aircraft. I've seen them (the fighters) taxi out in a blizzard covered in snow and take off perfectly fine.

[SAR_YQQ]

I've seen them (the fighters) taxi out in a blizzard covered in snow and take off perfectly fine.

Hi again.

One or two pilots piss poor judgment does make it ok to take off with contamination on the wings. The orders are very clear in this area - F.A.G. drivers are not exempt.

[frosti]

I've seen them (the fighters) taxi out in a blizzard covered in snow and take off perfectly fine.

Hi again.

One or two pilots piss poor judgment does make it ok to take off with contamination on the wings. The orders are very clear in this area - F.A.G. drivers are not exempt.

I'm not saying it was the right thing to do, but they need to keep their YFR up, blizzard or sunshine.