Do airplanes consume more fuel on liftoff when it is raining? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by ComplexLotus@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I think that the additional weight on the water on the surface of the outer airplane body increases friction with the air, and also weight of the aircraft. But does the fuel consumption increase? And by how much?

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[-] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago

Total guess but I imagine the increase in relative humidity impacts the combustion efficiency of the engine as well

[-] OldFartPhil@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago

Fun fact. In the days before high-bypass turbofan engines, water was deliberately injected into jet engines to cool down the combustion chamber and increase thrust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_injection_(engine)#Use_in_aircraft

[-] Hobbes@startrek.website 3 points 1 year ago

So they were part steam engine. Cool.

[-] OldFartPhil@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Never thought of it that way, but yeah, you could say that.

[-] Transform2942@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Damn what a rabbit hole and TIL

[-] NeoNachtwaechter@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Came here to write the same :)

I guess this effect is much stronger than a few raindrops on the surface.

this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2023

29 points (91.4% liked)

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