From former pilots and aircraft mechanics you can hear many colorful stories about how in the good old days they drained alcohol from airplanes and enjoyed drinking it. Is it true to drink this kind of alcohol, or is it all a story? Let's find out about it, and also take a closer look at the features of aviation alcohol.
Alcohol and its effects on the body
Before you learn more about the features of the studied fluid, it is worth briefly familiarizing yourself with the effect of alcohol on a person as a whole.
In Russian, as a synonym for this term, the phrase "ethyl alcohol" is most often used, it is also ethanol. This component is included in most drinks, without which not a single feast can do.
C 2 H 5 OH (ethyl alcohol formula) is the main component of vodka, whiskey, gin, beer, wine and the like. Once in the human body as part of one of the aforementioned drinks, ethanol has a toxic, and with frequent use, narcotic effect. Even its low concentrations in the blood have a sedative effect on the whole body. The muscles relax, there is a feeling of euphoria (that same intoxication) and somnolence (confusion).
With occasional consumption or abuse of ethanol-containing drinks, drug dependence may occur. In addition, constantly entering the body, ethyl alcohol gradually destroys the liver, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Unlike other types of narcotic substances, alcohol acts slowly and almost imperceptibly. In most cases, its destructive effect manifests itself only after decades. Therefore, they are often attributed to age-related diseases, not even suspecting the true cause.
For many years it was believed that not all alcoholic beverages are harmful. Many medical journals have documented the benefits of red wine for the cardiovascular system, thanks to its antioxidants. However, by the beginning of the second decade of the 2000s, the level of technology allowed scientists to thoroughly investigate this statement. After numerous experiments, it was found that this is a myth, and red wine, like other alcoholic beverages, does not help the heart, but only harms it.
Types of Ethyl Alcohol
Through the efforts of the World Health Organization, everyone knows about the dangers of alcohol. That's just it few people stop. Ethanol-based drinks continue to be one of the best-selling foods. This despite the fact that they do not apply to essential goods.
Since the monopoly on their production and sale belongs to the state, their prices are not cheap and are constantly growing. In this regard, regular consumers always went and today often go to various tricks that allow you to purchase alcohol cheaper than its market value. In addition to home brewing, the most common is the purchase of ethyl alcohol. Depending on its strength, it is diluted with water, and the same home-made vodka is obtained.
However, the sale of ethyl alcohol, as well as home brewing, is not particularly welcomed by the state, and is often very punished. Therefore, the acquisition of ethanol went underground. As a rule, it is always sold by employees of enterprises where it is produced or where it is used, more often for technical purposes (for example, medical or aviation alcohol). In the second case, you do not have to choose the quality level of this product. But in the first there is theoretically such an opportunity.
What types of ethanol exist? It all depends on what it is made of and how thoroughly cleaned:
- Basis. It is made from potatoes and grain. Depending on the particular manufacturer, their proportions may vary. However, the potato component cannot exceed 60%.
- Extra. Raw materials for production, similar to the basis. The difference is the degree of purification - it is higher. Due to this, the amount of impurities is less.
- Suite 35% made from potato starch, the remaining 65% - grain. Filtering has several degrees. It is used for vodka of middle class and premium.
- Alpha. This is an elite type of ethyl alcohol. It contains the least amount of impurities and is made exclusively from grain raw materials.
As for the fortress, 3 categories of ethyl stand out:
- Rectified alcohol. It happens 96.5%, 96.2% and 96%.
- Medical alcohol. Its strength differs depending on the party or destination. It cannot be more than 96.9% and less than 95.1%.
- Absolute ethyl alcohol. The strongest - 99.9%. Unlike the previous two types, it does not contain water and, as a result, does not cause corrosion. Therefore, this substance is used more often in perfumery, as well as in the production of household chemicals.
Aviation alcohol: what is it and what was it used for?
After the end of the Great Patriotic War, in order to avoid the repetition of something like that, all forces were sent to strengthen the country's defense. Colossal funds were allocated, thanks to which outstanding engineers and aircraft designers were able to realize their most daring ideas. Anton Ivanovich Mikoyan also belonged to such people. Under his leadership, many fighters were created, which were the pride of Soviet aviation. As a rule, all of them were named after Mikoyan and his colleague Mikhail Iosifovich Gurevich: MiG.
Most of these aircraft and similar ones used the notorious aviation alcohol. For what? Most often as a chemical component of the anti-icing system (PIC). The fact is that an aqueous ethanol solution has a lower freezing point than just water. This property of his was widely used in order to prevent icing.
Depending on the type of aircraft, it required a different amount of this fluid. The most alcohol-consuming were considered MiG-25. Among the flight brotherhood, he was even called a "flying deli." For one full flight of such an apparatus, an average of about 250 liters of diluted ethanol + 50-60 liters of pure in an additional tank was required.
This alcohol used in aviation was called "aviation". By the way, C 2 H 5 OH was also used in other military industries. In particular, on nuclear submarines.
Fortress
In the middle of the twentieth century. most MiGs and TUs in PIC used classic ethanol. Depending on the type of aircraft, the degrees of aviation alcohol and its composition were slightly different. Since the liquid still had to be diluted, absolute ethanol, of course, was not used by anyone. As a rule, rectified, less often medical alcohol was used for technical needs.
In this regard, there is a misconception that the answer to the question "How many degrees is in aviation alcohol?" Is correct: "95-96". However, this is not entirely true. Depending on the batch and purpose of use, the strength of aviation ethanol could vary. For example, in the multi-purpose Soviet helicopter MiG-6, it really was 96%. In such an aircraft, aviation alcohol was used to wash glass and as a reserve for electrical heating.
At the same time, liquid of a slightly different strength was poured into the tanks of the TU-22 aircraft. C 2 H 5 OH 96% was diluted with distilled or mineral water. Thus, degrees in aviation alcohol dropped to 50 in the summer. In winter, the amount of water decreased, and the fortress was 60-70 degrees.
Substitute alcohol for aviators
Depending on the model of the airplane or helicopter, hundreds of liters of C 2 H 5 OH were allocated to it. Naturally, this led to abuse among the crew and mechanics. Most of the liquid written off was stolen and resold. This business became especially popular in the mid-eighties, when the fierce struggle against alcoholism in the USSR began. In stores, vodka has become a shortage. And if in the villages people drove moonshine, then in the cities it was problematic. Therefore, stolen ethanol turned into a gold mine.
Naturally, when reselling it was necessary to take into account the strength of the drink. Depending on how many degrees in aviation alcohol, its cost fluctuated. On average, it was 7-9 rubles per liter.
In order to stop the theft, as well as to prevent the most valuable personnel from drinking, they gradually began to use not ethanol, but methanol and isopropanol or to introduce various additives into its composition. Unlike ethyl alcohol, these substitutes were life-threatening when taken orally. Since it was impossible to drink such a liquid, gradually such a composition began to be used in most aircraft.
So, considering the formula of aviation alcohol, it is worth considering the chronological period. So, by the end of the twentieth century. almost universally, C 2 H 5 OH was displaced by C 3 H 8 O (isopropyl alcohol) or CH 3 OH (methyl alcohol).
By the way, in modern Russian aviation, the liquid "Arctic" or a mixture of ethylene glycol is used as the chemical component of the PIC. In cases where only ethanol can be used, the Bitrex denaturing substance is added to it. It is considered the most bitter in the world, and its taste can not be deduced.
Characteristics of alcohol for aviators
The properties of this substance directly depended on which substance was its main component.
If it is ethanol, then such aviation alcohol had the following characteristics. Colorless volatile liquid with a characteristic odor and a burning taste. Lighter than water and is an excellent solvent for organic substances. Boiling point +78.39 ° C, freezing - minus 114.3 ° C.
Methanol-based aviation alcohol externally corresponds to ethanol. Moreover, its properties are different. The boiling point is +64.7 ° C, and the freezing point is –97 ° C. When mixed with water, compression and heating occur. It is worth noting that it is slightly worse for use in aviation. The fact is that CH 3 OH etches aluminum and reduced volatility in cold weather. At + 10 ° C and lower, fuel consumption is increased to achieve operating temperature. To destroy this problem, methanol has to be diluted with 10-25% gasoline.
Isopropanol-based aviation alcohol is also a clear volatile liquid with a pungent alcoholic odor. However, this aroma is different from ethanol and methanol. Its boiling point is +82.4 ° C, and its freezing point is 89.5 ° C. In combination with water forms an azeotropic mixture of 87.9% with a boiling point of +80.2 ° C.
Can I drink aviation alcohol?
For aircraft mechanics and pilots of the USSR, a similar question would most likely seem silly. After all, they not only drank the saved aviation alcohol, but also sold it to others, earning themselves additional bonuses to salaries.
And although such a drink was worse in terms of quality of cleaning and taking into account additives in stores, and even more harmful to the body, the consequences of its consumption appeared only over the years. However, as is the case with any other alcoholic beverage. Based on all this, the question whether aviation alcohol can be drunk should be answered positively. With the caveat that we are talking about ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH). However, do not forget about Bitrex and other denaturing additives. If they are present in a liquid, it becomes unsuitable for drinking.
When the term "aviation alcohol" means its modern technical substitutes, it is strictly forbidden to use it inside. Indeed, from methanol (CH 3 OH) you can go blind, or even give your soul to God. And with 99% probability. Although in appearance, smell and taste, it is identical to ethanol. To distinguish them, the liquid can be set on fire. Ethyl alcohol burns with a blue flame, methyl alcohol with a green flame.
Another way to distinguish C 2 H 5 OH from CH 3 OH is to dip peeled potatoes into the liquid. But ethanol will remain the same, and in methanol it will acquire a slightly pinkish tint.
As for isopropanol, its pungent odor can not be confused with ethyl alcohol.
What was the name of this drink in jargon?
Having dealt with the characteristics and finding out what aviation alcohol is used for, it is worth considering its slang names.
Named this drink in different ways. Most often, a "sword" and "awl."
During Prohibition of the mid-eighties - “Massandra” and “chassis-liquor”. By the way, on the slang of submariners, as in aviation, alcohol was an awl.
Origin of similar names
The origin of such diverse names is fanned by legends. There were such ways of deciphering the word "Massandra": "Mikoyan Aviated with Alcohol - People Satisfied with the Work of an Aircraft Designer" and "Mikoyan Artem - Glorious San of the Armenian People - Gives Joy to Aviators". In fact, aviation alcohol was called "Massandra" because it was the name of the vineyard on the southern coast of Crimea. Before the anti-alcohol campaign of Gorbachev, he produced excellent wines that were famous throughout the USSR. However, since 1985, acquiring such drinks has become very problematic. Therefore, consoling with diluted aviation alcohol, it was jokingly compared with the famous wine and called "Massandra".
The nickname "chassis-liquor" this drink was due to the addition of glucose to it. She gave the drink a sweetish taste, which was compared with liquor.
The name "sword" came from the rubberized ruler, which measured the level of aviation alcohol in the aircraft tank.
But the nickname "awl" came from the fleet. There, in the old days, alcohol was stored in special sealed leather wineskins. Tricky sailors, so as not to break the seals, pierced the containers with an awl and collected a hot drink in jars. The alcohol obtained in this way was called "awl" or "awl". Later, this name also migrated to aviation.
Folk ways to clean the sword
In the end, you should find out how aviation alcohol was filtered during the Soviet era. After pouring it into tanks and keeping it in other containers not for food, he acquired a lot of additional unpleasant components. So the consumption of aviation ethanol was almost always akin to Russian roulette. However, the pilots in physics and chemistry were well versed, so they came up with various ways to clean the consumed product and improve its taste.
Among the harmful substances in Massandra, mercury and lead were the most dangerous. To filter them, metal scrap was frozen to sub-zero temperatures and aviation alcohol was poured over it. This trick allowed the impurities to settle on the crowbar, and the resulting liquid was safer.
Also, awl often had to be separated from the kerosene mixed with it. Incidentally, it was often added to aviation alcohol precisely so that it would not be stolen. Thus, despite all the filtering tricks, the drink remained a kerosene smell, and an eructation with the corresponding aroma appeared from it.
The people there were several ways to clean such a mixture. As a rule, water was added to it, which was mixed with alcohol. Kerosene, like a lighter liquid, floated up. Then some set fire to the mixture, allowing kerosene to burn out. Others made all the manipulations in the tank with a tap below. Opening it, they gently drained the water with alcohol.
Also, activated carbon was added to the vodka obtained from their aviation alcohol.
How truly effective such tricks were is difficult to judge. In any case, everyone has their own health, as does the head on their shoulders. Therefore, today it is better not to experience such dubious techniques on your beloved. Especially since the yard is no longer in 1985, and any type of alcohol and even the real Massandra can be bought at the store.