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View Full Version : Fuel Tank Disintegrates in Midair



PhilDernerJr
2011-06-22, 07:08 PM
Anyone have any ideas on this?

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yankees368
2011-06-22, 07:17 PM
Description from the linked page: "Not sure what caused this incident, metal fatigue of the tank or pulling up too much Gs, the jet is an LM A-A4AR Fighting hawk."

moose135
2011-06-22, 07:25 PM
Fuel tanks are designed to be jettisoned off the pylon if necessary, it's possible it wasn't attached properly and it came loose. Once that happened, I'm not surprised the tank came apart - full of fuel, high speed, and tumbling through the air, must have had some significant forces on it. The US Navy refers to it as TFOA meaning "Things Falling Off Aircraft" - sounds goofy, but it is taken seriously, requiring a report of the incident.

BTW an "A-4AR Fighting Hawk" (that's the proper designation) is an upgraded version of the A-4 Skyhawk for the Argentine Air Force.

PhilDernerJr
2011-06-23, 07:45 AM
Good background, Moose. Thanks!