Carts starts. I was at Bitburg when the Air Defense Zulu alert F4E got
a hot scramble. The favorite scramble start routine then was to fire
both carts at once and move both throttles forward for a simultaneous
start and thus get off quicker. Alas, one cart did not fire. The crew,
full of adrenalin, did not realize this until well past normal
liftoff.(Usually about 4000 feet of roll). Being loaded with 3
external tanks, the AC decided to lighten ship and punched them off,
thus getting airborne well before the end of the 8000 foot runway. He
airstarted the dead engine and pressed on. This resulted in an absolute
veto on 'double bang' starts and renewed emphasis on checking the
engine instruments before takeoff. And an 'aw s--t" award to the crew.
Walt BJ