Originally Posted by
Top West 50
As a student at CFS Little Rissington in January 1969, I remember the fusilade of cartridge explosions in the early morning as we tried to get some life into the line of Chipmunks that had spent the night in a damp hangar. Gosh it was cold!
Yes Chippies could be a little reluctant to 'fire' during cold spells ( sometimes 2 or 3 carts )
Which reminds me of this little incident....
Back at Abingdon after the xmas holiday many years ago,very cold january weather...chippies not been started for a couple of weeks and were being a little reluctant to fire up.
One of our VRT gentlemen told his groundcrew that they were clear to prime (even though he had just started his walkround) so young 'E' says 'ok'
- he primes and swings the prop and hey presto the dripsy chunks into life and continues to idle - even with both mags
off LOL.
'E' is just staring at the prop spinning - the pilot is stood holding on to the rudder just gawping
.
A quick thinking sumpy SAC jumps up and pulls the fuel cut off !!
What a great start to the new year - much mirth at E's expense but nobody was hurt
Yes there was a good reason why the pilot shoulda been in the cockpit during engine prime
