In a message dated 5/30/2007 9:23:47 A.M. Central Daylight Time,=20 rtitsworth@mindspring.com writes:

<= FONT=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size= =3D2>John's=20 message has triggered a prior question I've had... What is the=20 best
type of on board fire extinguisher?

My limited understandin= g is=20 that Halon (and/or Halon substitutes) work by
absorbing/consuming oxyge= n -=20 which makes them effective at extinguishing
fires. However, it se= ems=20 perhaps that isn't something that I'd want to
trigger when I'm still in= the=20 (sealed) cabin (since I need the O2 as=20 well).

Thoughts/comments???

This may not be appropriate for pressurized aircraft, but....... I carr= y a=20 small halon extinguisher in the cockpit mounted on the longeron behind the=20 passenger seat and easily reachable with my right hand. It sits right=20= next=20 to the carbon monoxide detector. Halon was chosen for two reasons:

1. I was familiar with its use in computer rooms as being not overly to= xic=20 to occupants and non damaging to electrical components.

2. There is no other method that could be used in a cockpit that i= s=20 effective or safe - especially without wearing a smoke hood.

3. The air is rapidly changed in my unpressurized cockpit so there are=20= no=20 long term concerns if the fire is actually extinguished quickly.

4. The only cockpit fire I am worried about is electrical. These=20= are=20 easily managed by shutting off components and dousing any fire in progress -= =20 once.

5. I can't put an engine fire out with a cockpit extinguisher - Some ri= sks=20 are always present.

Uh, OK, there were more than two reasons.

Do not consider an ABC extinguisher. Don't have one in your hanga= r=20 either. The penetrating residue is corrosive to aluminum and=20 electrical components and cannot be completely cleaned up. You should=20= have=20 water (A) and a BC extinguisher available in your hangar since the chemical=20= used=20 in the ABC extinguisher is not used in the BC extinguisher.

One of the advantages of demand pulse O2 systems (I.E. MH), especi= ally=20 O2 supplied thru a mask, is that they are not releasing extra O2 into the=20 cockpit to assist the burn.

In any event, read:

http://www.h3r.com/halon/ac204= 2c.htm

Scott Krueger=20 AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL=20 (KARR)

Darwinian culling phrase: Watch=20 This!

See what's fr= ee at AOL.com.=

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