12 July 2007
It may be one of the more glamorous forms of pollution, but the smoke trails produced by aerobatic aircraft are nevertheless potentially harmful. They are made by injecting diesel into the exhaust of the aircraft, and the fumes can get into the cockpit and drifting smoke can land on spectators and the ground alike.
So Jez Hopkinson, leader of the Yakovlevs Display team, decided it was time to do something about it. Teaming up with Rob Midgley, GA Technical Manager of Shell Aviation, Jez trialled a number of different oils and ended up choosing Shell Ondina EL as the best option.
The oil is, say the Yakovlevs, “environmentally friendly and food safe yet also reasonably priced and not harmful to the aircraft or pilot.” Among other advantages are that it’s better for your aircraft’s paint, the smoke it produces is much whiter, and it’s even less slippery than diesel oil.”
About the only complaint from teams has been availability, but Iain Jack, general manager at Shell, says the company is addresing this: “Shell Aviation is working really hard to try and make getting the Ondina to the pilots as easy as possible.”
For more information, contact Jez Hopkinson at 07801 021 029, or at <a href=’mailto:[email protected]’ target=’_blank’>[email protected]</a>.
