REFLECTOR: how hot is too hot?

[Laurence Coen]

Dave,

You're right!  There needs to be something constructive come from this 
instead of finger pointing.  Most of us carry a Halon type extinguisher and 
a small one at that.  They work great for a small electrical fire but little 
else.  They work by smothering the fire.  They don't work well outdoors 
because the gas is dispersed rapidly.  Fire extinguishers are purpose 
designed for a particular situation and type of fire.  One size doesn't fit 
all.  The correct way to use an extinguisher is to pull the pin and direct 
it at the fire continuously (no spurts) till the fire is out or the bottle 
is empty.  If there is still fire when you run out, run!  In my opinion a 
full bladder would have been as useful as the onboard extinguisher in your 
situation.

Larry Coen
N136LC

--------------------------------------------------
From: <davedent at comcast.net>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 11:06 AM
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: how hot is too hot?

> Reply to all related to the fire bottle.  It was mounted on the right side 
> of the cockpit and only able to be reached if you were in the plane. 
> Remember this plane was a flip top type.  After getting out of the plane I 
> couldn't reach it when I called back to the tower to tell them the plane 
> was on fire.  Believe me, it came to mind, but I wasn't about to jump back 
> into a plane that was on fire to get a fire bottle that I couldn't reach. 
> The plane was a good foot higher now then normal because of the ground 
> level and it didn't have a step on the side like others. Like I said you 
> think a lot about the things you should have tried and didn't or the 
> laying up nights thinking what if's, but it does no good to rehash 
> something that has no value now.
> Come on guys, drop the subject and get on with something constructive.
> Dave
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom" <tomcat05 at comcast.net>
> To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 6:32 AM
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: how hot is too hot?
>
>
>> Dear Mr Walker,
>> I also, do not usually give my opinion. I know Dave Dent personally and I 
>> must say, as a pilot who has been flying for fifty years thirty five of 
>> those professionally as a navy pilot and airline pilot , I feel qualified 
>> to comment on Dave's qualifications. I know Dave as a careful and 
>> conscientious pilot. Your tirade is something that some pilots , usually 
>> with little experience, love to comment on after the fact not knowing the 
>> facts. It lets you show how knowledgeable you are. Let's face it,when an 
>> airplane is on fire all you want to do is get the hell out. I'm sure you 
>> are a extremely competent pilot and this sort of thing would not happen 
>> to you. Having said this don't shoot your mouth off until you know what 
>> was going on.
>> Lon Hoskins
>>
>>
>> If you're ever haunted any of the "Never Again" type forums like on AOPA, 
>> you'd see that this type of
>> reaction is all too normal for many pilots. We not only have lots of 
>> armchair quarterbacks in our ranks
>> but there are many folks who utilize this as a way to justify their own 
>> feelings of safety. They think that anyone who crashes is either some 
>> type of idiot or was not following rules. Helps them in their 
>> rationalization "I can never get hurt flying because I do everything 
>> right". It's truly sad when someone gets on one of these forums with a 
>> real life experience that we can all learn from and he gets nothing but 
>> ridicule.  Pilots can be like sharks with blood in the water when one of 
>> our own makes a mistake or simply experienced some bad luck..Tom
>>
>>
>>
>>
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