[RaceBannon]

Where did you get this information? I have yet to see a detailed report of Shaefer's aircraft having nosewheel problems, or Siefferts!

\ But seriously, how can a flame retardant seep into an avionics cabinet and destroy the afcs and TACAN on one, and the bims on another?

[alfa6]

As a former fire equipment technician I can perhaps shed some light on that. Purple K and Monoamonium Phospate (ABC Powder) are both considered to be highly corrosive agents. Esprcially if they become wet. They are also a very fine powder, almost like flour.

Combine this with a humid sea air enviroment and they could very well have contributed to all sorts of problems unless thourghly removed.

As one who has had to go into several resturants after the exhaust hood system has discharged that powder is everywhere.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

"The Guts to Try" by James H. Kyle and "The Iranian Rescue Mission: Why It Failed." Paul B. Ryan.

It would depend on the condition the birds were in on the hangar deck of the Nimitz. When the fire system was activated maintenance checks were being performed and on one bird in particular the radios were being worked on. If access panels and cockpit windows were open the odds that the powder would invade critical areas is pretty high. The birds were all washed within 30 minutes but it's unknown, definitively, if all the PKP was removed. I've seen the effects on equipment from birds that were doused with PKP and which the O level types thought were spotless after being washed. That stuff gets everywhere.