Originally Posted by
mahogany bob
Used to start all 4 with a mass rapid start from OUTSIDE the aircraft ! At Scampton in the mid 60s.
on one memorable occasion the engines were started from outside but the key to the entrance door - which I think was secured round the nav radars neck ? had been temporarily lost / forgotten - so the aircraft was throbbing away with the crew stuck outside!
can’t remember for how long the engines were running unattended but I think it was for quite a long time!
this method was stopped shortly afterwards!
First of all, I wasn't on the Vulcan at the time of this incident but have heard the story on many occaisions and I do know one of the participants. The tale is told in
and seems to correspond in most details with what I have heard over the years. It was a B1A which had an electrical sim start that was activated externally. The place of the occurrence was Waddington and the captain a flight commander with an Italian sounding name. In a later life he was my station commander; I didn't bring it up with him!
That's what I know.
YS