The Rocketdyne F-1 is one of the most well-documented, well-understood, and oft-cited rocket engine designs in history. LOX/RP-1 is a propellant formulation which produces an incandescent plume and dark particulate aerosol at steady state combustion.

Those who argue that the F-1 combustion is somehow wrong or anomalous generally cannot claim any special understanding of rocket propulsion, or of the special characteristics of the F-1's performance and fuel formulation. They are generally the subjective opinions of lay persons and are contradicted by a vast amount of engineering documentation.