Is This A Fairy Story
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Is This A Fairy Story
I was once told by a linie that they couldnt get a Lightning from Binbrook running one cold and frosty morning and despite all attempts it refused to start. The line chiefy then rolled up a Daily Mirror lit it with his ronson and chucked it into the air intake and the beastie started....
Well could it have happened or is this just another fable?
Well could it have happened or is this just another fable?
- definitely a fairy story.
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I met a guy who had made a model gas turbine engine of about 25 lb thrust. When he demonstrated it to me he was still developing the fuel system, in order to run it he had rigged up a temporary propane system, and a leaf blower to get sufficient air through the intake to get everything turning.
The starting procedure was:
1) turn on leaf blower and point down intake
2) turn on propane tap
3) flick BIC lighter in the ensuing fuel-gas/air mixture from the exhaust.
When the BIC was flicked a great burst of flame shot out of the back of the engine, but it was burning inside as well because after a second or two he dispensed with the leaf blower and the motor was running on its own.
The starting procedure was:
1) turn on leaf blower and point down intake
2) turn on propane tap
3) flick BIC lighter in the ensuing fuel-gas/air mixture from the exhaust.
When the BIC was flicked a great burst of flame shot out of the back of the engine, but it was burning inside as well because after a second or two he dispensed with the leaf blower and the motor was running on its own.
Re. the wessex dit: We'd often throw a bucket of water down the exaust to clean the igniter plugs when the 'Gnome' refused to light. Couldn't/shouldn't do it to a warm engine...thermal shock etc. Really confused the Pongoes at G100/Y453/R850 etc.....
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I know you can start a Tornado APU with a U/S ignitor using white spirit and burning Kimwipe!
(I was once Olaf's Padawan!)
(I was once Olaf's Padawan!)
Last edited by HallamPilot; 12th Dec 2007 at 12:41.
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I know for a fact you can cold start an Adour with a stick of celery and a Doberman.
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My Mk II Ford Zodiac, Cottesmore Vulcan days, had ‘something’ rolling around the fuel tank and removing it wasn’t an option. Every fifty miles or so the car would quit from fuel starvation but I’d developed a quick fix. In the glove box I kept half a dozen plastic syringes, full of petrol. Engine quits – roll to a stop – grab syringe and squirt neat fuel into the carb. Jump and back in and first crank worked every time. Picking up hitch hikers was normal then – and explaining the syringes became too much of a problem. ‘Secret fuel' on trial became the answer – “Does about 50 miles on one syringe full”. Seemed to work OK with the odd pongo.
Re. the wessex dit: We'd often throw a bucket of water down the exaust to clean the igniter plugs when the 'Gnome' refused to light. Couldn't/shouldn't do it to a warm engine...thermal shock etc. Really confused the Pongoes at G100/Y453/R850 etc.....
"R850" up your tube!
Hi there
I guess the same went on with Mig19s as I have read where Russian/E.European mechs would be unable to start an engine on the -19(especially if it was not exactly into wind) and would throw a burning rag into the exhaust.Someone would crank the relevant engine, pump in some fuel with the igniter CBs pulled, then reset them and go for a normal start.The fuel would ignite and the resultant "start" would blow the rag out of the tailpipe.It could be a spoof but it's not beyond the bounds of possibilities either.
regards
GttC
I guess the same went on with Mig19s as I have read where Russian/E.European mechs would be unable to start an engine on the -19(especially if it was not exactly into wind) and would throw a burning rag into the exhaust.Someone would crank the relevant engine, pump in some fuel with the igniter CBs pulled, then reset them and go for a normal start.The fuel would ignite and the resultant "start" would blow the rag out of the tailpipe.It could be a spoof but it's not beyond the bounds of possibilities either.
regards
GttC
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That Adour start procedure again ?
Mostlyharmless, I speak for almost no one when I say that I'd really, really like to see the video for that one.
Hi there
I checked with an ex-aviation/ex-industrial turbine colleague and he told me of at least two different types of aero-derivative industrial turbines which have ports in their casings for the use of a lighted taper to "enhance" the start-up if the engine is refusing to play.
regards
TDD
I checked with an ex-aviation/ex-industrial turbine colleague and he told me of at least two different types of aero-derivative industrial turbines which have ports in their casings for the use of a lighted taper to "enhance" the start-up if the engine is refusing to play.
regards
TDD
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How could a burning Daily Mirror rotate an Avon ? Bull***t However, a hairy Engine Chiefy once told me that a burning lump of rag thrown into the intake of a Typhoon ( Hawker, a proper one....) in France in 1944 would assist engine starting on cold mornings. 
However, a hairy Engine Chiefy once told me that a burning lump of rag thrown into the intake of a Typhoon ( Hawker, a proper one....) in France in 1944 would assist engine starting on cold mornings.
Sea King shutdown
There was a certain senior member of HS817 Sqn Maintenance crew at NAS Nowra who infamously poured a bucket of water down the intake of a SK engine that refused to shut down
! The hot end was stuffed of course.
One of the civilian NAPO engineers told me the story, the eng couldn't understand why he did this when shuting it down manually is a pretty simple proceedure
.
I believe more recent events may have lead to this person being removed from the Sqn.
! The hot end was stuffed of course.One of the civilian NAPO engineers told me the story, the eng couldn't understand why he did this when shuting it down manually is a pretty simple proceedure
.I believe more recent events may have lead to this person being removed from the Sqn.