Author Topic: Something a bit different  (Read 230 times)

Offline Greybeard

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Something a bit different
« on: 04.08. 2022 20:07 »
This contraption is "Big Wind" - a WWII-era T-34 with two MiG-21 jet engines strapped to it. It was built to blow out raging fires, and is one of the most powerful pieces of firefighting equipment in the world.

The idea originated in the Soviet Union, when trucks were fitted with smaller MiG engines to blast water at fires.

The example shown here is of Hungarian design - a T-34 fitted with two Tumansky R-25 turbojet engines, the same used in the MiG-21 fighter. The engines are positioned in place of the turret and rotate and even pivot up and down.

Above the engines are pipes that spray water into the jet exhaust.

When in action, the 130 decibel jets blast exhaust gasses near the speed of sound towards a fire - mostly like one at an oil well. 220 gallons of water is then sprayed into the stream per second.

The power of the jets cut off the supply of oil spraying out the of the well before it can ignite and continue to fuel the fire, extinguishing it.

The armor of the old WWII tank allows Big Wind to get extremely close to the fire - about 25 feet away. It proved invaluable during the 1991 Gulf War, where it put out a number of oil well fires in Kuwait.

https://youtu.be/j7Ss3BMrscE
Greybeard (Neil)
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Offline RichardL

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Re: Something a bit different
« Reply #1 on: 04.08. 2022 20:28 »
It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. *rant* *whistle*

Offline muskrat

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Re: Something a bit different
« Reply #2 on: 04.08. 2022 20:34 »
I hope the parking brake holds  *ex*
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR, '78 XT500, '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
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Offline Topdad

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Re: Something a bit different
« Reply #3 on: 05.08. 2022 10:59 »
I hope the parking brake holds  *ex*


Otherwise it becomes simutaniously A)  The first tank to reach mach 1  B) record the shortest "flight " of a tank to reach mach1 !
Oh and i agree with Richard it'd be fun ,( for someone else ) til it landed and someone loses a etc, etc
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