@patheticprepper4496
Hotter works great for missles
@War_Diesel
Looks very pretty. The sidewinder absolutely loves how pretty the very hot gasses looks.
@tophercaesar5375
American engines (e.g., F-22’s Pratt & Whitney F119) are often optimized for stealth and fuel economy with advanced variable-cycle or turbofan technologies, which may result in hotter, whiter exhaust flames or less visible ones at all. • Russian engines, like those in the Su-35 or MiG-29, prioritize raw thrust and power over fuel efficiency, with blue afterburners often being a byproduct of those hotter combustion zones.
@WolfWithAMelon
That blue engine flame is a wet dream for an aim-9x
@EastCoast_ITJA
USA have orange afterburners for a more strategical reason… The heat colour range goes from red to orange to blue to a white-ish. If something is very hot, it will be blue. If it is not too hot, it’ll be orange or red. Heat signatures are easy ways to spot enemy aircraft on the modern field, so having a smaller heat signature (like the F-22) will allow you to be stealthier So it is more or less a strategy. Though I must admit I love the blue afterburners of the SU-34
@tealwraith9045
Blue flames mean a harder working engine which translates into higher maintenance and lower reliability. Also, don't let them fool you, the afterburner section is located after the turbine so soot deposition is not occurring on the turbine, but would be on the exhaust outlet.
@Coach_Gamimg
I love how they call cooler temps, temps that's able to melt a person
@atiqrehman1072
That transition at 3:12 was chefs kiss
@ChrisD53893
Bad thing is higher temps will often cause more wear and this requires more maintenance and probably less engine life.
@Sox716
Blue looks such a nice colour
@SezerPAL
What deepseek says about this; The color difference in afterburner flames between U.S. and Russian jets primarily stems from variations in combustion chemistry, engine design, and fuel composition. Here’s a breakdown from an engineering perspective: ### *1. Combustion Chemistry & Flame Temperature* - *Blue Flame (Russian Jets):* - Indicates *more complete combustion* with higher temperatures (~1,700°C to 2,200°C). - Blue is characteristic of **leaner combustion**, where fuel mixes efficiently with air, producing minimal soot and radiating light primarily from excited **CH (methylidyne) and C₂ (diatomic carbon) radicals**. - Russian engines (e.g., AL-31F, Saturn series) often run at **higher compressor pressure ratios**, promoting better atomization and mixing. - *Orange/Yellow Flame (U.S. Jets):* - Suggests *incomplete combustion* with cooler regions (~1,200°C to 1,700°C). - The orange glow comes from *incandescent soot particles* (carbon particulates) radiating blackbody spectra. - U.S. engines (e.g., F119, F135) may run slightly *fuel-rich in afterburners* to maximize thrust, leading to soot formation. ### *2. Fuel Composition Differences* - Russian jet fuels (e.g., **T-1, TS-1**) have **lower aromatic content**, burning cleaner with fewer particulates. - U.S. JP-8/JP-5 fuels contain **higher aromatics**, which can produce more soot under rich-burn conditions. ### *3. Engine Design & Afterburner Geometry* - *Russian engines* often use *longer combustion chambers* and **multi-stage flame stabilization**, allowing more complete combustion before the afterburner. - *U.S. engines* prioritize **compactness and thrust density**, sometimes leading to shorter mixing paths and richer local fuel-air pockets. ### *Implications* 1. *Thermal Efficiency* - Blue flames suggest **higher combustion efficiency**, meaning more energy is extracted from fuel. - Orange flames indicate *some energy loss* as radiant heat from soot. 2. *Infrared Signature* - Orange flames emit *stronger IR radiation* (due to soot), making U.S. jets slightly more detectable to IRST (Infrared Search & Track) systems. - Blue flames have *lower IR visibility* but may still be detectable via plume aerodynamics. 3. *Maintenance & Longevity* - Soot deposition (from orange flames) can *foul turbine blades* over time, requiring more frequent cleaning. - Cleaner combustion (blue flames) may reduce **carbon buildup**, extending component life. 4. *Thrust-Per-Fuel Tradeoff* - Richer combustion (orange) can provide *higher peak thrust* at the cost of fuel efficiency. - Leaner combustion (blue) may be *more fuel-efficient* but could limit maximum thrust in certain regimes. ### *Conclusion* The color difference is a tradeoff between **combustion efficiency, thrust requirements, and IR stealth**. Russian engines lean toward **high-efficiency, high-temperature combustion**, while U.S. designs sometimes accept **slightly dirtier burns for thrust or packaging advantages**. Neither is strictly "better"—just optimized for different operational philosophies.
@MarkMayfield-d5k
Thanks for the heat sigs, comrade.
@VladNeagu-e8x
The only bad thing about this is that russian jets will have a bigger heat signiture
@mr_sandman1082
While it is benificial to minimize your jets Infrared imprint on the battlefield, it’s also a huge advantage for your engines to not burn as intensely as the Russian ones in order to conserve fuel, something that’s often overlooked
@MarkH-e5v
Hotter exhaust temps makes them more vulnerable to heatseeker missiles. A better target for the Sidewinder.
@danielbarnes7559
It's also a difference in refining practices
@viperlabs7735
Also makes em more vulnerable to heat seekers
@demonseed19
That aim 9x LOVES hot russia engines ❤😂
@dannybeausejour5008
stoichiometric ratio.. perfect combustion burns blue and hotter than yellow wich means richer in fuel... thus cooling exhaust temps that is true for gas burners, torches etc... all depends on what you are trying to acheive, ICE engines produce more power in a safer way when mixtures are a bit rich, damages to mechanical parts can occur from producing too much heat, the sacrifice in efficencie vs more reliability and achieving higher power output as for turbine engines in this case i am not sure but my guess would be somewhere around getting higher output and protecting vital componants aswell... interesting design philosophies anyone know for sure?
@joaoarmandowiteck760