flameout
Sign in to saveAlso known as flame-out
In aviation, a flameout (or flame-out) is the run-down of a jet engine or other turbine engine due to the extinguishment of the flame in its combustor. The loss of flame can have a variety of causes, such as fuel starvation, excessive altitude, compressor stall, foreign object damage deriving from birds, hail, or volcanic ash, severe precipitation, mechanical failure, or very low ambient temperatures.
~2 min read
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Engine control
- Engine restart
- See also
- References
In aviation, a flameout (or flame-out) is the run-down of a jet engine or other turbine engine due to the extinguishment of the flame in its combustor. The loss of flame can have a variety of causes, such as fuel starvation, excessive altitude, compressor stall, foreign object damage deriving from birds, hail, or volcanic ash, severe precipitation, mechanical failure, or very low ambient temperatures.
==Engine control== Early jet engines were prone to flameout following disturbances of inlet airflow, or sudden or inappropriate thrust lever movements, which resulted in incorrect air-fuel ratios in the combustion chamber. Modern engines are much more robust in this respect, and are often digitally controlled, which allows for significantly more effective control of all engine parameters to prevent flameouts and even initiate an automatic restart if a flameout occurs.