Flight Testing With Hot JP-4 Fuel

The hot ambient/high altitude operating environments of modern helicopters with crashworthy suction fuel systems put stringent demands on the design of fuel pumps and lines, expecially when using volatile fuels such as JP-4. Flight testing of engine/airframe fuel systems designed to meet these requirements is a task equally as stringent. Basic fuel properties, as well as enoine and airframe fuel system characteristics, must be considered for their impact, and tests structured accordingly. A flight test program incorporating all these variables must be conducted to demonstrate system performance.