Turbine Equipment really is better

[Bluto]

You've got it Saabtrash. I kept thinking to myself: What is his point?! Now it makes sense.

 

[prodigal]

Yep, I'm out of JQF.

 

[A Squared]

>>>Turbine engines start up perfectly almost every time.

Well, which would give you a greater sense of satisfaction:

A: Working the primer paddle, ignition boost and throttle just right to get a nice smooth start with no backfiring or popping on an R-2800 after a quick turnaround on an hot day,

or,

B: jabbing the start button on your CRJ with your index finger and watching it go through the autostart sequence.

I know what my answer is, I'd rather risk buying the occasional pitcher of beer for the crew for banging one on start, knowing that I'm doing something that is challenging and not everyone can do well.

I have a friend who recently checked out in the CRJ. Listening to him describe it, I was dumbfounded by just how much everything is done for you. Unless I misunderstood him, according to his company policy, they are only actually flying the airplane for a minute or 2 of each leg, and even when they are hand flying it, there's a lot of assistence from from the magic, like that little display that shows exactly what your airspeed will be 10 seconds from now as you move the throttles or change configuration.

I dunno, I'm not trying to put down anyone flying a CRJ, or any other highly automated airplane. If you like it and it pays the bills, great. It's just a long, long way from what attracted me to flying.

 

[LR25]

100LL, aviation perfume.

 

[Cardinal]

Turbine engines start up perfectly almost every time.

I dunno. I have a relatively scant amount of turbine time, but I've seen a few hung starts on Garretts, and that wonderful little PT6 is not fond of colder climes. Frozen nozzles, 8% N1, it's only as strong as it battery in the cold. Although I've heard that there is an, ahem, "alternative" technique to get a PT6 started when the gas generator is feeling sluggish in the morning.

 

[flight-crew]

I've seen about two or three "No lightoffs" when starting the CRJ engines. But I'd say that 99 out of 100 engine starts are the same everytime. As long as you have enough bleed air for the starter, it shouldn't be a problem. I did see one very slow (almost hung) start when starting off of an air bottle. But that's because the air bottle was so weak.