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Old 30th Jun 2013, 14:35
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Circuit Clear
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Certainly within the RAF, when an F-16 diverted in with a problem, (thankfully not often) we always tried to ascertain whether the emergency power had been enabled and thus posed a problem with Hydrazine.
Many years later, I found out that this also was the emergency power source on F-14, F-15, F-18 and the Space Shuttle!! The latter wouldn`t have presented a problem to most RAF and NATO bases!
The Hydrazine risk was/is a huge health hazard especially to Emergency crews attending the aircraft on the airfield. Not just the firemen, but medics, towbar recovery and the ubiquitous FOD plod that ensued. We were all told about it, rarely exercised for it and thankfully over 30 years I never had to witness it.
Maybe the years have weakened the resolve to treat it respectfully.
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