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Trucks In Siberia Use Retired MiG Fighter Engines To Blow Superheated Air And Clear Frozen Runways In Minutes
In Russia, especially in the Siberia, the intense cold requires creative solutions. One that stands out is trucks equipped with engines from planes used to clear airport runways. These unusual machines remove snow and ice in minutes, blasting jets of hot air directly onto the surface.
The most curious aspect is that many of these engines came from retired MiG-15 fighters. Produced on a large scale in the Soviet Union from the late 1940s, the jet became an icon of the Cold War.
With thousands of units manufactured, parts remained abundant after its gradual retirement from service.
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Today, only North Korea maintains some active examples, used solely for training.
Jet Blower
The secret of these machines lies in the Klimov VK-1 engines, derived from the British Rolls-Royce Nene. Adapted into six-wheeled heavy trucks, they were installed in the chassis.
The exhaust nozzle was adjusted downward and backward to direct the superheated air directly against the ground.
When the system is turned on, the jet blows air at temperatures reaching 600 °C at extreme speed. This melts the ice and shoots the snow away in seconds.
Thus, the runway is quickly cleared without the need for aggressive scraping.
Advantages And Challenges
Among the main advantages is speed. An area that would take hours with traditional methods can be cleared in minutes.
Furthermore, the process melts even the layers of ice stuck to the asphalt, ensuring greater safety.
Another positive aspect is the preservation of the surface. Since there’s no direct contact, the asphalt doesn’t get scratched and markings aren’t damaged. The guidance lights are also protected.
The most important thing is that this efficiency comes at a cost. The blowers consume enormous amounts of fuel and produce extremely loud noise typical of jet engines.
Additionally, they emit large volumes of polluting gases, a challenge for airports trying to reduce environmental impacts.
Where The Inspiration Came From
The idea of repurposing military engines emerged in the 1960s. At the time, the Soviet Union had warehouses full of still functional aircraft parts. Instead of discarding them, engineers sought practical applications.
For this reason, locomotives and railway vehicles also received turbines to clear snow-covered tracks. The concept proved useful in different areas.
Other Examples
Not only the Soviet Union invested in this resource. In the United States, Nascar tracks began using vehicles known as jet dryers. Equipped with aircraft turbines, they dry the asphalt after rain or melt ice.
Even today, modernized versions are still in operation in races, demonstrating how out-of-service engines can gain new utility.
With information from UOL.
