Gas Turbine Engine Starters
Gas Turbine Engine Starters
Early gas turbine engines had either electric motor starters or as with the ME-262, tiny internal combustion engines in the nose bullet of each engine.
Evolution developed cartridge starters as fitted to many Rolls Royce engines. Then there were many air turbine starters using high pressure air from ground or internal APUs.
Then there is the C-130A-E , but not the J, which can do a "windmill taxy start" or a buddy start if you have a broken starter and you really want 4 turning.
The Boeing B787, having no bleed engine air or ducting, has presumably reverted to electric starting.
The RAAF F-86 Sabres of the 50s/60s with Avon Mk26 engines initially had electric starters which considerably cutailed the aircraft's mobility until they were fitted with IPN starters. IPN = Iso Propyl Nitrate, a handle with care liquid which is believed to be still used for the thrusters on some space vehicles. This F-86 had a small tank of the stuff giving it 3 or 4 relaible and rapid starts spinning up the spool rapidly to idle RPM.
Questions are --- Were any other aircraft/engines fitted with IPN starters.? And who makes IPN these days?