Bright red glow visible from rear of engine?
07-29-2011, 12:04 PM
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Bright red glow visible from rear of engine?
A brief search on google didn't help much, but in order to appease my curiosity of what I witnessed, I'll turn to the experts here on APC....
Last night I witnessed a 737 taxiing out from the ramp with a very visible red glow from the turbine exhaust nozzle on the #2 engine. I've never witnessed that before or heard of it occurring.
I made a mental note of the tail number and flight number in the rare chance that I witnessed something dangerous, but by now its clear that there was nothing wrong.
My assumption is that something in the engine was at a much higher temperature than would be typical and was glowing red hot. Anybody have an explanation for what I witnessed?
Last night I witnessed a 737 taxiing out from the ramp with a very visible red glow from the turbine exhaust nozzle on the #2 engine. I've never witnessed that before or heard of it occurring.
I made a mental note of the tail number and flight number in the rare chance that I witnessed something dangerous, but by now its clear that there was nothing wrong.
My assumption is that something in the engine was at a much higher temperature than would be typical and was glowing red hot. Anybody have an explanation for what I witnessed?
07-29-2011, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by AZFlyer
A brief search on google didn't help much, but in order to appease my curiosity of what I witnessed, I'll turn to the experts here on APC....
Last night I witnessed a 737 taxiing out from the ramp with a very visible red glow from the turbine exhaust nozzle on the #2 engine. I've never witnessed that before or heard of it occurring.
I made a mental note of the tail number and flight number in the rare chance that I witnessed something dangerous, but by now its clear that there was nothing wrong.
My assumption is that something in the engine was at a much higher temperature than would be typical and was glowing red hot. Anybody have an explanation for what I witnessed?
Last night I witnessed a 737 taxiing out from the ramp with a very visible red glow from the turbine exhaust nozzle on the #2 engine. I've never witnessed that before or heard of it occurring.
I made a mental note of the tail number and flight number in the rare chance that I witnessed something dangerous, but by now its clear that there was nothing wrong.
My assumption is that something in the engine was at a much higher temperature than would be typical and was glowing red hot. Anybody have an explanation for what I witnessed?
On older Lear 23/24/25 and lots of straight turbo jets you can see it really well at night, especially on take off.
07-29-2011, 12:18 PM
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Do you fly THIS type of airplane
I was in the window seat on a 737 from OKC to ATL. Noticed mx putting oil in the engine. Halfway through the flight I notice brown fluid running down the side of the engine. BING. Stewardess, please inform the pilot that there seems to be some sort of fluid leak on the right engine. She gave me some platitude, and I mentioned that I was a pilot and that fluid from an engine is usually not a good thing. Her response was - do you fly THIS type of aircraft. Ummm, no ma'am.
I just wish they would have quietly admitted that yes, there is a small problem, the pilot's know about it and it will be fixed in ATL.
I just wish they would have quietly admitted that yes, there is a small problem, the pilot's know about it and it will be fixed in ATL.
07-29-2011, 03:07 PM
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Flying at night in a Piper Chieftain, I once noticed a red glow through the air vents on the left engine cowling. It took me a while to realize that the glow was emanating from a pipe shaped object. After a little thought, I realized that an EGT of 1,525 degrees F is plenty hot enough to make the exhaust pipes glow red lol. Never gave it any thought until that night, but MAN that's hot!
07-29-2011, 03:54 PM
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Thanks for the replies. It did cross my mind that I was simply seeing the glow from the combustion section. I guess I discounted that idea initially because the aircraft was turning and the glow remained visible through about 40 degrees of the turn. I didn't expect it to have such a wide viewing angle of the glow.
Anyways, was neat to see.
Anyways, was neat to see.
07-29-2011, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Fly Boy Knight
Flying at night in a Piper Chieftain, I once noticed a red glow through the air vents on the left engine cowling. It took me a while to realize that the glow was emanating from a pipe shaped object. After a little thought, I realized that an EGT of 1,525 degrees F is plenty hot enough to make the exhaust pipes glow red lol. Never gave it any thought until that night, but MAN that's hot!
07-29-2011, 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by N9373M
I was in the window seat on a 737 from OKC to ATL. Noticed mx putting oil in the engine. Halfway through the flight I notice brown fluid running down the side of the engine. BING. Stewardess, please inform the pilot that there seems to be some sort of fluid leak on the right engine. She gave me some platitude, and I mentioned that I was a pilot and that fluid from an engine is usually not a good thing. Her response was - do you fly THIS type of aircraft. Ummm, no ma'am.
I just wish they would have quietly admitted that yes, there is a small problem, the pilot's know about it and it will be fixed in ATL.
I just wish they would have quietly admitted that yes, there is a small problem, the pilot's know about it and it will be fixed in ATL.
Ha! I have about 3000 hours in the old 737-200's. I'd bet you a donut that's what you were on. The Jt8D engine oil filler door is on the left side of the cowl. So the oil filler door is only visible on the right engine from the cabin. And, it is very difficult to add oil without spilling some on the inside of the compartment. Once you are airborne, the slipstream causes oil to run down the side of the engine. In 3000 hours, I never had a passenger complain about oil leaking from the left engine!
Having said that, I always (pre-9-11) sent the FO back for a look and to put the passenger(s) at easy.
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