Modern Use
Most jet fighters and all US military rotary wing aircraft have some type of self-sealing tanks. Military rotary wing fuel tanks have the additional feature of being crashworthy. High altitudes require the tanks to be pressurized, making self-sealing difficult. Newer technologies have brought advances like inert foam-filled tanks to prevent detonation. This foam is an open cell foam that effectively divides the gas space above the remaining fuel into thousands of small spaces, none of which contain sufficient vapour to support combustion. This foam also serves to reduce fuel slosh. Major manufacturers of this technology include Amfuel (Zodiac) (formerly Firestone), Meggitt (formerly Goodyear), GKN USA and FPT Industries. FPT is now part of GKN. For military use, tanks are qualified to MIL-DTL-27422 (includes crashworthiness requirements) or MIL-DTL-5578 (non-crashworthy). An aircraft fuel tank sometimes consists of several interconnected fuel cells. The interconnecting hoses are typically also self-sealing.
In additions to fighter aircraft some military patrol vehicles and armoured VIP limousines feature self-sealing fuel tanks.
Self-sealing fuel tanks using military technology are also required in some motorsport categories.
Read more about this topic: Self-sealing Fuel Tank
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—Stephanie Coontz (20th century)
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—Robert Bly (b. 1926)