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Old 12th November 2004 | 13:54
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Daysleeper
 
Joined: Oct 2003
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How does a jet engine work at cruise altitude
Great big rotating blades that some PHd at RR spent a decade learning to design squash the air up and squirt it through the combustion chamber.



As for the initial question. Possibly. It would depend on a huge number of variables. If you think of the fire triangle,

HEAT
FUEL OXYGEN

There are a large number of bits of an engine that would provide all the required items, not withstanding the 500 degree fire inside the core.

So for instance a bleed air leak could provide both oxygen and heat onto a rubber component which would provide the fuel.

I guess you might struggle to light a campfire at 41,000 feet but I would not rely on that for an engine fire.
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