Talk:Rolls-Royce Spey

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[edit] Low altitude fuel consumption

Flying at low altitude requires much more fuel; the air-fuel mixture needs to be kept very close to a constant value to burn properly, so more air means you need to use more fuel. is incorrect, it just harder to move through high dencity air. PeterGrecian 12:36, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Well, the phrasing isn't really the best, but the general idea is correct -- with a higher *amount* of oxygen at lower altitudes, the engine needs more fuel to burn, or it'll run too lean and flame out. (You're also correct, of course -- there's more drag at lower altitude due to higher air density as well, but this is only a minor contribution to the greater fuel burn.)--chris.lawson 15:36, 7 September 2006 (UTC)