3 ms·

This looks like (and was confirmed as) a compressor stall[0]. Not to understate the severity, but this is really something that just happens sometimes and isn'

This looks like (and was confirmed as) a compressor stall[0]. Not to understate the severity, but this is really something that just happens sometimes and isn't "that" bad - air stalls somewhere in the compressor, leaking unspent fuel through the back of the engine that combusts from the heat of the exhaust gas. The aircraft isn't actually on fire. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressor_stall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressor_stall

stephenr 3y ago
... so does that mean the engine is just less efficient, or has it essentially become a paperweight, and is worse than useless for the purposes of keeping a giant metal bird in the sky? (yes I realise these planes are designed to be able to land with one engine out, or two if you're Tom Hanks and near a freezing cold river)
- wannacboatmovie 3y ago
  Believe a 747 can fly with 3/4 engines out.
- inejge 3y ago
  There isn't a single reason for a compressor stall, so neither there is a single possible outcome. The pilots are generally instructed to reduce power level until the surging stops; if the damage is too great that won't help and the engine must be shut down. All passenger aircraft are certified to be fully controllable with an engine out, but having it happen is usually treated as an emergency. (With some notable exceptions like flight BA 268, look it up.)
- thot_experiment 3y ago
  This plane is a 74, so it's got 4 engines and IIRC there was at one point a trans-atlantic flight from SFO or LA (with passengers, this one was cargo) that had a compressor stall on takeoff and they just KEPT GOING on 3 engines and made it almost all the way to Heathrow before diverting due to the less efficient fuel use. EDIT: sorry didn't notice sibling comment mentioning this exact incident, here are some links for the lazy [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_268 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_268 [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBGbi8dfac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBGbi8dfac
  - stephenr 3y ago
    > This plane is a 74, Yep that's my bad. I somehow read `747-8` as `787`, thanks for the link though that was an interesting read.
- thelastparadise 3y ago
  > giant metal bird in the sky FYI airplanes don't "fly" in the way birds do. You could think of it as a falling maple seed, but with two blades so it's symmetrical/balances out.
DylanSp 3y ago
Do you have a link to confirmation that it was a compressor stall?
wkat4242 3y ago
It's not exactly harmless either. The shockwaves can damage the engine.

stephenr 3y ago

... so does that mean the engine is just less efficient, or has it essentially become a paperweight, and is worse than useless for the purposes of keeping a giant metal bird in the sky? (yes I realise these planes are designed to be able to land with one engine out, or two if you're Tom Hanks and near a freezing cold river)

wannacboatmovie 3y ago
Believe a 747 can fly with 3/4 engines out.
inejge 3y ago
There isn't a single reason for a compressor stall, so neither there is a single possible outcome. The pilots are generally instructed to reduce power level until the surging stops; if the damage is too great that won't help and the engine must be shut down. All passenger aircraft are certified to be fully controllable with an engine out, but having it happen is usually treated as an emergency. (With some notable exceptions like flight BA 268, look it up.)
thot_experiment 3y ago
This plane is a 74, so it's got 4 engines and IIRC there was at one point a trans-atlantic flight from SFO or LA (with passengers, this one was cargo) that had a compressor stall on takeoff and they just KEPT GOING on 3 engines and made it almost all the way to Heathrow before diverting due to the less efficient fuel use. EDIT: sorry didn't notice sibling comment mentioning this exact incident, here are some links for the lazy [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_268 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_268 [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBGbi8dfac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWBGbi8dfac
- stephenr 3y ago
  > This plane is a 74, Yep that's my bad. I somehow read `747-8` as `787`, thanks for the link though that was an interesting read.
thelastparadise 3y ago
> giant metal bird in the sky FYI airplanes don't "fly" in the way birds do. You could think of it as a falling maple seed, but with two blades so it's symmetrical/balances out.

DylanSp 3y ago

Do you have a link to confirmation that it was a compressor stall?

wkat4242 3y ago

It's not exactly harmless either. The shockwaves can damage the engine.