[Milsurplus] TCS-12

[D C Macdonald]

The B-52s used a cartridge start for alert aircraft.
I seem to remember that our B-52Fs used the
J-57 engines.  There wasn't enough time to
fire up the auxilliary power units (APU) to start
engines for an alert drill.  I think the starters
may have been on only one engine.  Once one
engine was running the others could be fired
one at a time until all eight were running.  I
seem to remember that it only took about two
or three minutes from the time pilots reached
the cockpit to get 'em all running.

Mac, K2GKK/5
B-52F - 7BW/9BS/ArcLight 1965


----Original Message Follows----
From: telegrapher at att.net
Reply-To: telegrapher at att.net
To: Joe Foley <redmenaced at yahoo.com>
CC: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] TCS-12
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:15:21 -0700

When i was doing aircraft maintenance we had non electric/air type
starters on the J-57/J-75 type engines.  Was quite a bit bigger than a
shotgun shell but about the same principle.  Take this big cartridge
full of sulfur smelling stuff and stick it in a stainless steel
(appeared to be anyway) cover that looked like what you would put over
the top of a cake, screw it onto the engine and tell the pilot to get
after it.  Lots of black smoke, did it ever stink but it was enough to
get the engine rpm over 12-14 % which it then was self sustainable up to
55-60% idle speed.  Lot's a jets used that method.  B-57's were another
one.  For the Fighter group it was a method of getting the engine
running if you were set down at an isolated field with no ground power
assessable for the Electrical or high pressure air start system.  Sure
appreciated a well taken care of battery in them cause without it you
wasn't goin nowhere.

What this has to do with boatanchors i have no clue.  Don't get me
started on stuff like this.  brings back memories.....

Larry
W0OGH


Joe Foley wrote:
 >
 > I still get a kick out of the dork whom I asked if
 > anyone still used the slide-out foot peg to hand crank
 > their engine starter.  He said, "Oh, that's passe, no
 > one does that anymore."  Talking down his nose to me
 > he was.
 >
 > I'd still like to see them start their engines with
 > the shotgun shell.
 >
 > Joe