Answer :
Final answer:
Personnel armor should not be worn when servicing aircraft with JP-7 jet fuel except in combat due to the risk of static discharge igniting the fuel, which has a high flash point and requires special handling procedures.
Explanation:
When servicing aircraft, personnel armor should not be worn while performing fuel servicing operations with JP-7 jet fuel except in actual combat. JP-7 fuel, used by the Lockheed SR-71 'Blackbird', requires safety precautions due to its unique properties, such as a high flash point and the need for a pyrophoric material like triethyl borane (TEB) for ignition.
Due to these properties, and the fact that JP-7 is less volatile and resistant to ignition, armor made with materials like Kevlar, which can create static electricity and potentially a spark, should not be worn during fueling operations due to the risk of igniting the fuel.
Military personnel typically wear flight suits made of Nomex to protect against cockpit fires. However, during fuel servicing operations with specific fuels like JP-7, additional precautions are necessary to minimize the risk of static discharge, leading to the guidance of not wearing personal armor unless in a combat situation.
The Lockheed SR-71's JP-7 fuel has been specially formulated to safely operate even under the extreme conditions of high-altitude reconnaissance missions.
