The Navy's Pacific Fleet says a fighter jet and a helicopter based off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other.

A fighter jet and a helicopter based off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet said.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    6 days ago

    President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo on Monday, said the incidents could have been caused by “bad fuel.” He ruled out foul play and said there was “nothing to hide.”

    If that was the actual problem…

    trump has no idea how bad that is, and how insane it is to say it…

    It’s probably an excuse he thought of in the moment and just a lie, but it’s a really bad sign if true. Like, helicopters don’t use jet fuel.

    Edit:

    Depending on type of helicopter engine, turbines apparently do use jet fuel

      • chocrates@piefed.worldEnglish
        5·
        6 days ago

        I was gonna say, they have a turbine as well as the rotor right? I don’t know what makes jet fuel special, but helicopters surely would need it too

        • remotelove@lemmy.caEnglish
          8·
          6 days ago

          MH-60s have 3 engines. 2 for the main rotor and 1 (the APU; aux power unit) to provide air (I can’t remember if it pushes air somehow or is geared to the engine turbines) to start the two main engines and provide initial electrical power. All three run on JP-5, which is jet fuel. (I was stationed in a helicopter squadron for a few years.)

          JP-5 is a kerosene based fuel, and not very special if I remember correctly.

          I don’t know if it was the case here, but water in the fuel is a common issue and it should be tested for on a regular basis.

        • NOT_RICK@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          6 days ago

          Yeah any decent sized helicopter is run off of jet turbines. They provide the power to rotate the rotor. Jet fuel burns hotter, is less prone to freezing, and is more energy dense than gasoline or most other types of petrol fuel.

    • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      6 days ago

      The fact that it was a jet and a helicopter makes me think bad fuel might actually be the reason. It is hard enough keeping water out of fuel on dry land, let alone at sea. Then again, with Trump you never know if it’s something more insidious, like corners being cut on maintenance.