How B-52 Bombers Scramble: Small Explosives Power the Engines

[MARU 5137]

Normally, it takes over an hour to start up a B-52 bomber, but a method called "cartridge starts" or "cart-starts" can reduce the startup time to under 10 minutes. A small-controlled explosive called a starter cartridge, filled with approximately 4 lb (1.8 kg) of gunpowder, is placed into each engine to quick-start the B-52.

 

[FullArmor]

Saab dragen also used "liquid gunpowder" to start engines.

[FullArmor]

I have heard one story about mechanic who accidentally got this "liquid gunpowder" to his skin...and almost got heart attack because it absorbed trough skin to his heart. Same stuff as those pills old folk used to take. Nitro.

[PanzerWomble]

They used to start Royal Navy Deltic Diesels the same method - modified shotgun shells I think. 

[GusMac]

6 hours ago, FullArmor said:

I have heard one story about mechanic who accidentally got this "liquid gunpowder" to his skin...and almost got heart attack because it absorbed trough skin to his heart. Same stuff as those pills old folk used to take. Nitro.

Yes, nitroglycerine is a powerful vasodilator and routinely used as a treatment for angina. A large dose of that would not be pleasant.

It's also about 15 times more explosive than TNT

[belugawhaleman]

I knew that method was used on piston engines but didn't know it

was used on B52's....Cool! I remember the scene from the original

Flight of the Phoenix movie with Jimmy Stewart where cartridges were

used to start the engine.

[MARU 5137]

ONE learns a lot from this forum.

Thank you Gentlemen. 

Here's another interesting video...

 

 

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters are conducting short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) training aboard the U.S. Navy’s latest America-class amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA-7). The concept of a "Lightning Carrier" involves adapting amphibious assault ships to specialize in the operation of F-35B stealth fighters, allowing them to function similarly to aircraft carriers. Typically, amphibious assault ships are designed to support Marine Corps landing operations, but a "Lightning Carrier" is capable of carrying a significant number of F-35B jets and can serve as the focal point for air operations, much like a traditional aircraft carrier.

ENJOY.

MARU 5137