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Did You Know Aircraft Used A Starter Like This ?

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3.1K views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  Before My Time  
#1 ·
"The Coffman starter uses a specially made 4 gauge paper shell with an electric primer. It is filled with .25" and .187" diameter cordite pellets for slow burning powder. The shell fires into a starter assembly on the accessory case of the engine, same position as an electric starter. It DOES NOT fire directly into a cylinder of the engine. The gasses force a piston inside the starter assembly forward towards the engine collapsing spiral gears on top of each other converting it into a circular motion. This engages the starter dog and rotates the starter gear. After the piston reaches the end of its travel a valve released the residual pressure and a die spring resets the whole process."

Neat huh ?

 
#8 ·
That is an impressive video considering the age of the aircraft.

I believe the system was used on the Consolidated PBY Catalina , was used as a patrol/bomber aircraft during WWII - it had a long range/flying time on one load of fuel - after the war many were converted into flying yachts.

The one in the photo below is either landing or has just taken off as the wing tip floats are down

Image
 
#9 · (Edited)
Got beat to the punch on this one, but the B-57 cartridge start is pretty dramatic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAtZh58JFDU

How about an English Field Marshal tractor starting the same way,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01Sr8S9uQMc

Here's the engine start sequence from "Flight of the Phoenix". The plane which the cast "crashed" in the desert was a Fairchild C-82, not a C-119 The plane made up for the attempted escape was a studio-made plane using a North American T-6 Engine, prop, cockpit and landing gear. The wings were from a Beech C-45. The center section and remainder of the fuselage and tail were home made from wood, steel tubing and plywood to resemble the tail boom of the C-82 "Packet". There was also tail wheel which was actually a North American Navion nose wheel. After Mantz crashed the "Phoenix", a few remaining flight scenes had to be made so a North American O-47 was used for distance shots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IACjOvyx5hs
 
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