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I watched a few of the training films that are out there on YouTube for WW2 aircraft showing how to start the engine.
I don't know why I'm surprised that everything I did to start my car in winter in Iowa before computers ran everything is stuff you do when cold starting a P-47.
The big difference is there's no spring returning the throttle to idle and the throttle is hand controlled not foot. Oh, and an airplane has manual mixture control.
Otherwise, just your standard 4-stroke gas engine.
But it is kinda funny watching the instructor wiggling the throttle lever to "feather it" like I would tickle the pedal to get it to catch when it hasn't quite started.
Starting a high power radial engine can be problematic, frustrating, embarrassing. Quite often when watching movies and visual 'how to' training aids from WWII, I am amazed that most pilots get a good start straight away. Not always though. And these were highly trained pilots.
ReplyDeleteYet even the actual footage of, say a carrier launching aircraft, there may be one or two aircraft struggling to start. In real life during WWII, depending upon urgency, they might push those aircraft over the side to clear the deck in order to allow following aircraft to launch.
My first radial was the North American T-28. A great aircraft, sometimes needing the gentle coaxing like a lover. The Russian AN-2, it seems that one needs five hands to start. The satisfaction of a good start makes it all worthwhile.
Try it sometime. Find the owner of an aircraft with radial engine. Most pilots are very happy to show off their bird. You needn't be a pilot, only to express an interest.