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Originally Posted by ghost8772  okay, I have a different kind of question. I know that there are currently flamethrowers in current technology, but don't know exactly how they work. Anne's books have Nitric acid as a major part of the technology the pernese use in it. (agenothree became a slur from HNO3-nitric acid, in dragonsdawn) I've been wondering if the pernese, heading towards low-tech, didn't revamp the machine into something more resembling a dragon. one tank holding powdered firestone, another holding agenothree, a third tank, or the first mixing the two. like the dragon's "second" stomach, the acid releases the phosphine gas from the rock, builds up the pressure when the nozzle is opened, gas is released and like the dragons it ignites on contact with base air. LIkely an unconventional method, but no need for any ignitor, no need for any petroleum based product (which are rare on Pern anyways), or the requirement for refining petroleum products. Any thoughts? |
when the oldtimers first brought forward the flame throwers, they were just that, using something flamable (the text doesnt specify) with a spark to create flame. it is fanderel who suggests using agenothree - an acid used for etching (he says) that will freeze and burn at the same time. the oldtimers are interest3ed in converting the flame throwers to 'throw' the acid as it will not 'singe the hair from the holders' as is put by d'ram (i could be mistaken in my acrecdation, not read it in a while). when she returned to the original settlers in dragons dawn, ms maccaffrey had them using both flamethrowers and agenothree for ground crews to combat thread. i'm not sure what the method of ignition for the flamethrowers was, but it wasn't dragons as ground crews used them also. pern does have petroleum (shows in the original survey and in text later 'black water' is referred to), and a suply they could use easily. not enough to export in quantity, but the original colonists didn't want to use it because of damage to the environment.