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RAF ban on 'exploding' Tunnock's teacakes lifted after 60 years RAF clear 'exploding' Tunnock's teacakes to fly after 60 years
(about 2 hours later)
RAF pilots have been advised to keep the Tunnock's teacakes in their wrappers until they are eatenRAF pilots have been advised to keep the Tunnock's teacakes in their wrappers until they are eaten
Sixty years ago, Tunnock's teacakes were banned from RAF flights after they exploded in a cockpit. The story goes that 60 years ago, Tunnock's teacakes were banned from RAF flights after a cockpit marshmallow explosion.
They left a sticky mess over the airmen, their instruments and the cockpit's canopy. The chocolate-covered treats were apparently all the rage, eaten by nuclear bomber crewmen on training sorties at the height of the Cold War.
The chocolate-covered marshmallow treats had apparently been all the rage prior to this - being eaten by crewmen as they flew nuclear bombers on long training sorties at the height of the Cold War. But in the summer of 1965, a captain and student pilot forgot they had placed unwrapped teacakes above their instrument panels.
But the ban has now been lifted after the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine carried out tests in an altitude chamber and the teacakes did not explode. When the captain pulled an emergency depressurising switch the iconic Scottish treat erupted - leaving a sticky mess over the airmen, the instruments and cockpit canopy.
It was the summer of 1965 when a captain and student pilot forgot they had placed unwrapped teacakes above their instrument panels. Now the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine has now given them the all-clear to fly again, after tests in an altitude chamber found the teacakes did not explode.
When the captain pulled an emergency depressurising switch in a training mission the iconic Scottish treat erupted. The experiments were covered by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) at the centre based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire.
The new tests were carried out at the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine under strict conditions. The teacakes burst in the tests and the marshmallow filling safely puffed out
First they were put into an altitude chamber - normally used in the training of new fast jet pilots - and were lifted to 8,000ft, climbing at 4,000ft per minute, First the teacakes were put into an altitude chamber - normally used in the training of new fast jet pilots - and were lifted to 8,000ft, climbing at 4,000ft per minute,
They were then rapidly decompressed to 25,000ft in three seconds to see if they would blow up.They were then rapidly decompressed to 25,000ft in three seconds to see if they would blow up.
As air pressure in the chamber decreased, the air inside the teacakes expanded until the chocolate cracked and the mallow filling puffed out.As air pressure in the chamber decreased, the air inside the teacakes expanded until the chocolate cracked and the mallow filling puffed out.
However, although the mallow escaped from their chocolate casing, they did not explode and cause a risk to in-flight safety.However, although the mallow escaped from their chocolate casing, they did not explode and cause a risk to in-flight safety.
It was also discovered that when they were frozen before being placed in the chamber, their hardened shells were more resilient to cracking at altitude.It was also discovered that when they were frozen before being placed in the chamber, their hardened shells were more resilient to cracking at altitude.
Pilots have been allowed to take them back in the cockpit but have been offered some advice by Dr Oliver Bird, an instructor at the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine, who carried out the tests.Pilots have been allowed to take them back in the cockpit but have been offered some advice by Dr Oliver Bird, an instructor at the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine, who carried out the tests.
"The best advice is that the snacks are kept frozen and in their foil wrappings until pilots are ready to consume them," he said."The best advice is that the snacks are kept frozen and in their foil wrappings until pilots are ready to consume them," he said.
Tunnock's, based in Uddingston, near Glasgow, has been contacted for comment.Tunnock's, based in Uddingston, near Glasgow, has been contacted for comment.