Question for the jet pilots
 

My house lies in the flight path of a small airport (Sacramento Exec) and various biz jets fly over several times a day, usually around 500' or so (my un-educated guestimate).

Every now and then, after one goes over, I get a very strong kerosene/jet fuel smell. What's up with that? Is it common for them to leak? Or am I just smelling jet exhaust?

I'm not a pilot, but I do work for a big airplane company. It's exhaust you are smelling. A day out on our flightline, where they are (of course) often running these things, leaves that smell in my schnoz for what seems like days. I'm not a propulsion guy, so maybe one can chime in, but it sure seems like they run rich. Particularly at full power, like on take-off. Reminds me of an MFI car getting goosed hard.

I can't speak with authority about bizjets, but for the bigger jets manufacturers are pretty determined to keep combustibles under control - for obvious reasons. It is possible to get some raw jet fuel overboard through tank vents, but that would most likely happen 1) full tanks, 2) rising temps, 3) takeoff. If the jet is 500' overhead the probability is very high that the small amount that could escape the tank vent would be fully vaporized.

Then, of course, there's "dumping fuel" to lighten the aircraft, but you'd have *no* doubts then.

Jim

It's exhaust fume for sure...!

Are you shur its not my Cummins Diesel drivin by?

Thom,

Does it happen after a noisy jet flies in? The older jets had what is called a "turbojet" engine, as opposed to a "turbofan" style of engine.

The older jet engines had a core tube where air came in, was compressed, fuel introduced then ignited and the exhaust and thrust came out.

Newer models have a "bypass section" where there is the same core jet section but also a large fan section is added on the front. Depending on the altitude about half of the thrust comes from the large fan but does not go through the "hot section" but around the outside of the engine. This is a lot quiter, uses far less fuel and pollutes a lot less.

Would guess that its one of these that fly over and you are smelling the excess fuel from this.

TurboJet

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TurboFan

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I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Smells like. . .Victory.