The Aviation Thread

[Dani]

...instead of a ball I'd have a yaw string on the windshield. It worked opposite the ball - instead of stepping on the ball, you'd use the opposite foot from the way the string was blowing. I'd tell those not used to it that the bottom of the string, where it's attached to the windshield, points to the foot you push on.

I fly a 15 meter fiberglass glider. I use the yaw string all the time. I have no balls to step on. 

[Jaime320]

@Dani lol

@Steph2.0
A couple years ago i wanted to use one on my plane. I quickly learned not to step on the tail, but rather where it's pointing. Please update the webs with your yaw string instructions. Everywhere you read it tells why it works, but not usage. You explained it very well.

[KathyLauren]

I fly a 15 meter fiberglass glider. I use the yaw string all the time. I have no balls to step on. 

Groan!  LOL

[Leslie601]

Waaaaay back when I did my multi transition we used a Piper Apache. The instructor taped a short piece of yarn to the windshield and , if I remember this correctly, said to imagine that the string was an arrow pointing downward toward the direction you needed to push, right or left, and how much. Seems to me it actually worked well.

L

[Donica]

Question! Flying small Pipers and Cessna's, one of the last things on the check list before starting the engine was to yell out the window "Clear Prop". Do you small/fighter jet jockeys say anything before starting the turbines?

Oh dear! I can just hear Stephanie giggling back there some where thinking about it. Dare I say, something like "Clear the Hoover Vac"? Ok, sorry!

Mischief this day I am!

[steph2.0]

Question! Flying small Pipers and Cessna's, one of the last things on the check list before starting the engine was to yell out the window "Clear Prop". Do you small/fighter jet jockeys say anything before starting the turbines?

Oh dear! I can just hear Stephanie giggling back there some where thinking about it. Dare I say, something like "Clear the Hoover Vac"? Ok, sorry!

Mischief this day I am!

Oh dear, Donica! How could you even think that after years of running engines that were missing half the strokes of usual aircraft engines, I would disrespect engines that have no strokes at all?

Stephanie

[KathyLauren]

Question! Flying small Pipers and Cessna's, one of the last things on the check list before starting the engine was to yell out the window "Clear Prop". Do you small/fighter jet jockeys say anything before starting the turbines?

If there is someone on the ground near enough to need to be told to stand clear, they had better be wearing ear protectors, so they wouldn't hear anything you shouted anyway!

We always started with a ground crew person.  Due to a defect in the original aircraft batteries (fixed/replaced since my time), we weren't allowed to do a battery start except in an emergency. 

The ground crew's main job was to drive the "mule" that towed the mobile generator.  They'd plug the generator into the aircraft, then come around the front to coordinate the start with the pilot.  The pilot would give the hand signal for "start #1" (index finger raised and twirled in a circle), the ground crew would repeat the signal back as confirmation, then the pilot would hit the start switch.  It was the crew person's job to make sure the area was clear.

The ground crew would visually check the control surfaces as the pilot operated them.  We could see the ailerons, and the elevator and rudder were visible in the mirror, but we couldn't see the flaps or speed brakes, so we needed outside eyes.  The crew person was also checking for hydraulic leaks, common on the first -30C day of winter, and for smoke or other bad stuff.

Finally, the pilot would signal to disconnect the ground power, and the ground crew would drive the card on to the next plane in line.

The flight line consisted of two rows of about 45 parking spots each.  Both rows would be full first thing in the morning.  During the day, about 2/3 of the aircraft would be off flying at any one time.

A clear-weather day would keep two or three start crews busy all day, with five aircraft starting every 15 minutes from 06:00 to 18:00.  There were, of course, equivalent crews refueling and servicing the aircraft as they returned from their missions and were turned around for the next ones.  And all the aircraft (90-ish) had to be hangared every night and towed out to the ramp every morning.  I have a lot of respect for the ground crew!

[Donica]

Thanks Kathy! That's like watching the crews onboard ship. You won't go anywhere without them. Your certainly not going to get out and hook the nose wheel hook to the cat by yourself

[KathyLauren]

Here, courtesy of Wikipedia, is a photo of the Moose Jaw flight line.  A Tutor is being started in the near row.

[steph2.0]

Here, courtesy of Wikipedia, is a photo of the Moose Jaw flight line.  A Tutor is being started in the near row.

I see you waving!

[Kirsteneklund7]

Oh dear, Donica! How could you even think that after years of running engines that were missing half the strokes of usual aircraft engines, I would disrespect engines that have no strokes at all?

Stephanie

These days I work on mostly gas turbines
As we all know these are just large fuel injected hair driers.
Real engines have things called pistons in them.
A real aircraft has a round engine and a tailwheel. Inline or flat engines are cool too.
Nothing compares to a big bore aircraft engine for sound or sheer presence.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[steph2.0]

These days I work on mostly gas turbines
As we all know these are just large fuel injected hair driers.
Real engines have things called pistons in them.
A real aircraft has a round engine and a tailwheel. Inline or flat engines are cool too.
Nothing compares to a big bore aircraft engine for sound or sheer presence.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Exactly! Beech Staggerwing, Cessna 195, C-46, C-47, Beech 18, B-17!

I'll give the Lancaster credit for having a tailwheel, and four Rolls-Royce Merlins make a pretty sweet noise!

[KathyLauren]

I'll give the Lancaster credit for having a tailwheel, and four Rolls-Royce Merlins make a pretty sweet noise!

YES!  The only thing sweeter than the sound of a Merlin engine is the sound of four Merlins.

[steph2.0]

YES!  The only thing sweeter than the sound of a Merlin engine is the sound of four Merlins.

At Oshkosh a few years ago, I watched (and heard, and felt) a Lancaster, a Mosquito, a Spitfire, and two or three Mustangs take off and fly together.

O.M.G.

[Colleen_definitely]

I need to make it to Oshkosh sometime.


But on the note of starters, I've always wanted to use a cartridge starter on something.

[Kirsteneklund7]

At Oshkosh a few years ago, I watched (and heard, and felt) a Lancaster, a Mosquito, a Spitfire, and two or three Mustangs take off and fly together.

O.M.G.

My gender dysphoria is fading into insignificance now while I have an episode of Merlin envy!

Thank you Steph! (Bitch).

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[steph2.0]

I need to make it to Oshkosh sometime.


But on the note of starters, I've always wanted to use a cartridge starter on something.

I read a story a while ago about a jet fighter with a cartridge starter. True or not, it would be a hoot.

The pilot had landed to refuel, and the airport's start cart was out of service. He told the ramp rats, no problem, we'll just push start it. They were scratching their heads when he told them that if they just got him rolling fast enough, he'd pop the clutch and get it going.

They pushed him down the taxiway and when he got rolling he waved them off, pumped the brakes so the nose dipped, and fired the cartridge. The engine spooled up and he was on his way, with the ground crew staring with their mouths open.

[steph2.0]

My gender dysphoria is fading into insignificance now while I have an episode of Merlin envy!

Thank you Steph! (Bitch).

Hey hey hey! A little respect here! That's Miss Bitch to you!

[Colleen_definitely]

I read a story a while ago about a jet fighter with a cartridge starter. True or not, it would be a hoot.

The pilot had landed to refuel, and the airport's start cart was out of service. He told the ramp rats, no problem, we'll just push start it. They were scratching their heads when he told them that if they just got him rolling fast enough, he'd pop the clutch and get it going.

They pushed him down the taxiway and when he got rolling he waved them off, pumped the brakes so the nose dipped, and fired the cartridge. The engine spooled up and he was on his way, with the ground crew staring with their mouths open.

LOL!  Now that's creative 

[Dena]

I need to make it to Oshkosh sometime.


But on the note of starters, I've always wanted to use a cartridge starter on something.

The Martin B-57 Canberra used a cartridge starting system but it didn't work like you might think. When you set it off, it would produce a massive cloud of black smoke while the engine was winding up.