I have since 1965. Its called a Coffman starter and uses brass shells like shotgun shells filled with cordite to provide the pressure to run the starter.

https://www.hemmings.com/stori...-combustion-starters

Interesting! 4 gauge.

I think 4ga shells were fairly common back in the 1800s--they were used in Punt Guns for edible bird harvesting. I don't know if anyone makes them now, but I'm sure that 8ga shells exist because they are used in cement plants to break up "fire rings" in the big rotating kilns. (I worked around one in a 1950s summer job--huge bang and flash!)

flashguy

Most of the aircraft we flew were started by hand propping, a couple with electric starters, and one aircraft was equipped with one of my favorite starting methods, the inertial starter...but I'll admit that I'd love to try a Coffman starter someday.

Following the same basic principle as the Coffman starter, there is also a compressed air starter.





Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65qrzgbTTcQ






Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb0-br7hTw0

I recall in the Air Force (Germany) we had F-4's staged in a "Hot Area" for rapid deployment. They were equipped with an electcally initiated starter cartridge for each engine. The starter charge (cordite?) blew air into the intake, rotating the engine allowing it to start.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Lunasee,

IIRC, the starter cartridge for a B-52 is about the size of a gallon milk jug.

Wow. Hate to sound like a kid, but this is awesome cool info. I saw the "Flight of the Phoenix" first run, and always wondered.

Model T airplane starter.

When I was stationed at Eglin AFB half the base was SAC. I was at the end of the runway on
drag chute detail when President Kennedy was shot. Suddenly,a very large cloud of black smoke
appeared behind the tree line and all available B-52'S were scrambled using what we called "gun powder starting canisters". Imagine 12 B52's starting engines at the same time.I'll never forget
seeing that many B52's taking off so close together the trailing aircraft having multiple
compressor stalls.I thought we were at WAR

Is that a Bristol F2B Fighter from WW1 attached to the Model T?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Is that a Bristol F2B Fighter from WW1 attached to the Model T?

I believe it is a Bristol F2B.

Every time I say something like that during or after a movie, My wife says relax, its only a movie.

quote:

Originally posted by Aquabird:
Every time I say something like that during or after a movie, My wife says relax, its only a movie.

Is that when watching “Flight of the Phoenix “ or “Debbie Does Phoenix?”

The downside to the Coffman and Breeze starter systems, on radial engines, is that often radials don't start on the first rotation. Especially in colder weather, it may be necessary to flood the supercharger with fuel which runs out the supercharger drain during the start process, and can result in an engine and ground fire. Radials may take numerous rotations before enough cylinders begin firing, to sustain rotation.

Radials tend to fill up in the lower cylinders with oil, which can cause hydraulic lock, and can bend connecting rods. The engine is pulled through by hand first, but it can fill up after, and it's safest to use a starter with a clutch that will release against resistance, as well as watch closely for propeller hesitation or stoppage during the start cycle.

On large radials, we always turned it through 9-12 blades before introducing fuel. It's not uncommon to need to turn a radial engine through a number of rotations while starting, before it finally fires, and gets enough cylinders coughing out there to keep it running.

Cartridge starters were far more reliable in turbojet aircraft, the main advantage being getting multiple engines started at the same time or in close order, rather than waiting for the start cycle on each (for air starter equipped aircraft).

I never liked inertial starters.

I assume they are more ideal for warplanes, eliminating heavy batteries and wiring for electrical starting, and allowing non supported remote starting.

Here's a short movie taken at Bruntingthorpe UK, of a research Canberra and is Coffmann cartridge start...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9fkmqPHTDE

They allow a rapid start; provisions have been available in some civil aircraft. I used to fly a polish airplane with a radial engine that had provisions for a cartridge start, though we didn't use it. We had the miserable inertial starter, instead.

In turbine aircraft, either external electrical power, or external air, or both, are required during engine starts. To start using internal air, an aux power unit must be started, then each engine started in turn (some aircraft to or more at once), whereas a cartridge starter allows firing of multiple engines rapidly, and in some cases, with limited or no ground support.

Some diesel engines use a powerful wound up spring starter, and some used a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system was pumped up by hand, and was typically used on lifeboats.

Here's a quick video of a B-52 (H?) cart start:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anFdf5aYtIA

Back in the days of Strategic Air Command, I think these carts were the standard method of starting bombers from ground alert.