Arrghhhh Engine Fire
I've been tought two differing ways of dealing with an engine fire and I was interested what others had to say and what thier thoughts were? Or has anyone actually experienced one and do all rational thoughts go out the window?!
Firstly I was tought, after doing the checklist & turning off fuel etc.. if there was still a fire going then dive upto Vne in an attempt to extinguish flames. Now I always thought this reasonable and didn't really question it, until recently when another instructor told me that 'even in ww2 when the aircraft dived to 500mph+ they didn't always extinguish the fire, you're vne is well below that. You'll only fan the flames by diving'.
He advocated side slipping to point whatever smoke/flames there were away from the side you're sitting on and just get it on the ground where ever you can asap. Ie side slip to the left, (if you're on the left) and get a huge rate of descent and straighten it all up close to the ground. His reasoning that you'd be close to the ground quickly and you'd be at a reasonable speed and so you'd not be waiting an age to wash off the excess speed which arriving at vne would leave you with?
Has anyone else any thoughts/views on this, or which is best? not that I ever have to put either into practice!!!!