The Operation of Gas Turbine Engines in Hot and Sandy Conditions: Royal Air Force Experiences in the Gulf Conflict

During the initial phase of the Gulf Crisis, the principal instrument at the disposal of the British Government which could respond in time was air power. This situation continued, and throughout the period of military build up and subsequent conflict air power remained a dominant factor. During the period, many equipment modifications were incorporated to increase both performance and reliability, and the gas turbine engines which powered the RAF's aircraft were no exception. However in some cases, engines were operated at a much increased flying rate in harsh operating conditions in standard configuration. This paper reviews the operating experiences and some of the modifications incorporated, including the subsequent effect on aero-engine reliability trends.