Concorde Icing Issues

[Robert T]

I am trying to resolve why Concorde needed such extensive de-icing trials before entering service.

I assume it is to do with the size of the delta wing in subsonic flight and/or icing crystals in the engine intake at supersonic speed. The bit that confuses me is how does ice build up when the outside skin temp is betwen 90 and 110 degrees?

[Bullethead]

G’day Robert,

I dont know the the answer but you may find some useful information here.

https://paulross.github.io/pprune-concorde/docs/index.html

cheers,
BH

[Robert T]

I have had a quick look but can't find anything there! Didn't realise this was going to be a head scratcher! Thanks anyway for the lead.

[MATELO]

I am trying to resolve why Concorde needed such extensive de-icing trials before entering service.

I assume it is to do with the size of the delta wing in subsonic flight and/or icing crystals in the engine intake at supersonic speed. The bit that confuses me is how does ice build up when the outside skin temp is betwen 90 and 110 degrees?

Just guessing, but it was possibly because she had to climb and descend through clouds/icing conditions before and after supersonic cruise.

[wiggy]

I'll second MATELO in having the opinion that I rather doubt icing in supersonic cruise at high level was the issue..not just because of skin temperatures but also because of the relative lack of water vapour/ super cooled water droplets/ice crystals at Concorde cruisng levels.

The effect of icing during the climb/descent and also approach, when the aircraft was operating pretty much the same way as a "common or garden" subsonic airliner will have been of more interest.