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March 20, 1968
Aviation DAILY
Page 96

RESEARCHERS REPORT ON EMULSIFIED AIRCRAFT FUEL AT ENGINEERS' CONFERENCE

A research group has prepare an experimental emulsified jet fuel which could aid in the reduction of fatalities in aircraft crashes. Statistics indicate that 70 percent of aircraft crash fatalities result from fire associated with liquid fuel, according to a report prepared for delivery this week in Washington at the Gas Turbine Engine conference of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 
Work leading to the preparation of the experimental fuel was carried out under an Army contract. J. Nixon and T.J. Wallace of the Government Research Laboratory and Alan Beerbower of the Products Research division, Esso Research and Engineering Co. indicated two emulsified JP-4 fuels were under study. Several engine manufacturers are evaluating one of the emulsified fuels, the report stated. 
One of the two fuels under study, WSX-7165, releases combustible vapors at a reduced rate, maintains stability under varying temperatures, is compatible with materials used in aircraft construction and resists flow through punctured tanks.
With the use of an emulsion, two "unmixable" liquids are formed in a heterogeneous system. In this case, one liquid is dispersed in the other in the form of droplets.
Additional advantages of the emulsion have been discovered, according to the report. These were: the rate of vaporization per unit area is reduced, the tendency of the fuel to atomize on impact is greatly reduced and since the fuel is broken up "into mounds" on rupture of the fuel tanks, the rapid flame spread is minimized with elimination of the fuel farming pools,
In a full-scale crash test program, a C-45 had its wing and fuselage tanks filled with the emulsion and had an external auxiliary tank filled with liquid fuel for powering the plane. The crash-test showed fire breaking out on the side of the plane with the auxiliary tank, while on the other side there was no fire. In the crash, the tanks had ruptured on impact. In similar trials with a helicopter, no fire was discovered.

NATIONAL AIRLINES GET $25 MILLION BANK CREDIT

National Airlines has entered into a $25 million revolving credit agreement with seven banks, to "provide additional financing for various corporate purposes," the company said. Banks involved are: the Bank of America (San Francisco), Irving Trust Co. (N.Y.), First National City Bank(N.Y.), Bank of the Southwest (Houston), Chemical Bank New York Trust, First National Bank of Miami (Fla.), United California Bank (Los Angeles). 
National is currently taking delivery of 25 Boeing 727-235 trijet, and has a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-61 and two Boeing 747s on order. The carrier said that the remaining funds due on the 12 Boeing 727s not yet delivered and on DC-8 and related spares is about $66million--the amount to be provide for "from internal funds and bank loans."

'METROPORT' UNDER STUDY IN ANAHEIM, CALIF

Plans are being studied by Anaheim (Calif.) officials to build a "metroport" for helicopters and STOL aircraft at Ontario International Airport. The facility would enable carriers to serve Orange County with regular flights to Ontario and Los Angeles airports, as well as providing connections with scheduled flights at other Southern California airports.

JAPAN AIR LINES will accept delivery of its first Super DC-8 April 5. Under current plans, Tokyo-Honolulu-San Francisco-New York service will be inaugurated in early July with the new aircraft. Following delivery, the aircraft will be taken to San Francisco for crew training and familiarization, then to Tokyo for additional preparations before inauguration of the new service.

AIR CARIBBEAN has taken delivery of a Short Bros. & Harland STOL Skyvan.