The Ultimate Fire Eater
In 1991, after Saddam Hussein’s army invaded Kuwait, it left behind blazing oil fires which were extremely difficult to put out.
By Gabor George Burt · 29 April 2025 · 1 min read
What do you get when you put fighter jet engines on a tank? Answer: A fire’s worst enemy.
I admit it. I have a soft spot for really imaginative and fun examples of what I call the ‘innovation shortcut’ – putting together already existing, previously separate components to form compelling, new value propositions. And this example may be the best one yet.
In 1991, after Saddam Hussein’s army invaded Kuwait, it left behind blazing oil fires which were extremely difficult to put out. Thinking laterally, Hungarian engineers rigged Mig-21 fighter jet engines on a World War II Russian tank. The resulting monster, called ‘Big Wind’, shoots out 8,000 gallons of water per minute, at 770 miles per hour. Fire has no chance.
