Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Flight of the Phoenix question...

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

El Bucho

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2002
Posts
175
I remember it from the original too. Does anybody know exactly how that works with starting a big round engine with what looks like a 12 gauge shotgun shell? I know it's some sort of charge or whatever, but just wondered exactly how that worked. Thanks.

EB
 
It was called a cartridge starter. It used gas from a shotgun-type blank to turn the engine over in remote areas where there wasn't a power cart and the plane's battery might be dead.

Similar systems were used later on in turbine engines, such as the B-57 Canberra's famous smoky starts.
 
El Bucho said:
I remember it from the original too. Does anybody know exactly how that works with starting a big round engine with what looks like a 12 gauge shotgun shell? I know it's some sort of charge or whatever, but just wondered exactly how that worked. Thanks.

EB

It was called a Kaufmann starter. The expanding gasses were directed over a flywheel, which spun it up, then thru a rudimentary gear arrangement to convert the energy into a usable torque from the revolutions, then thru a sprague clutch to the crankshaft via the accessory case. Very similar to an inertial starter found on R-985's and 1340's.
 
B-52's had a similar system for use on the alert pad. The could fire up all 8 engines at once. I understand the crew chiefs hated it because it was a real pain to clean up afterwards.

Any Buff crews around?
 

Latest resources

Back
Top