Ther theory behind the jet engines is like blowing out a VERY LARGE CANDLE, The water spray helps smother the flame. Fire fighters have learned that a fine mist is better than a heavy stream of water in putting out fires.
Red Addair (?) used to use dynamite to blow out the oil well fires. Dynamite in a barrel mounted on a boom attached to a bulldozer, drive it into the flame and BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!! With any luck the fire is out and stays that way. Most of the time they put the fires out with just water spayed to cool the equipment in the fire so it will not relight the fuel after they use the water to smother the flame. But they had so many fires going in Kuwait that they could not take their time. So the jet engines on a tank. Neat trick and good thinking.
There was a special on Discovery or the Learning Channel and the IMAX that showed them using all of the techniques.
Now I wonder how they transport the BigWind unit, strap wings on it?