Re: Fuel dumping in modern aircraft
Its everywhere, even in the commercial stuff (really). Check out the local airport and the twin-engine airplanes there, namely Commanches and Barons. take off weight is way up there, landing weight in a whole new story.
Had a KC-135 I was flying on show a hydraulics warning indicator at 5,000 feet. Not really all that high to dump fuel but it had to be done. Got back to base fine but we were discussing how we hoped what we dumped evaporated before hitting earth....over a populous area, one schmuck lighting up his grill could've blasted us to Saturn!

There's also rumor of an F-16 maneuver where the pilot comes in slow but at a high angle of attack, which would produce a lot of wake turbulence. Dump fuel into this and light burner and supposedly its one HELLUVA site to see (and loud). Don't recall what its called. Never seen it, just heard of it.
Now, Wesley Crusher and his fellow cadets vented drive plasma for the Cobalt Star manuever.....any Trekkies here? hehe
Take care guys!
Paul
http://bd5.checksix.net