SR-71

On 1-Nov-2007, "Morgans" wrote:

On the same subject, I remember reading that the huffer to start a 71 had
a
Chevy 350 powering it, and that it took every bit of it.

Anyone? True, or not/details?
--

Sort of true. Quoting again from Rich Graham's wonderful book: "Starting the
huge engine was accomplished by a direct mechanical drive to initiate engine
rotation. The large starting cart used to turn the engine over was called a
"Buick" because it originally had two large block Buick V-8 engines, mounted
beside each other, providing over 600 horsepower to rotate the J-58 engine.
When Buick engine parts became scarce, maintenance converted over to using
large block Chevrolet V-8 engines. The "Buick" engines didn't have mufflers,
just 16 straight pipes coming off the exhaust manifold. Through a series of
gears, the two Buick engines drove a vertical shaft, extending upward and
connecting directly to the bottom of the J-58 engine.
The "Buick" start cart was wheeled into position just inside the wingtips
with the vertical shaft directly beneath the engine. An engine access
panel was removed, allowing the vertical shaft to connect directly to the
engine. When the pilot called for engine start, the crew chief gave the
signal to his assistant, standing under the engine, to pull out the manual
throttle on the "Buick" control panel. Applying full throttle to the
"Buick," the noise reverberating inside the hangar sounded like a 3000
horsepower dragster revving up, and at night flames could be seen shooting
out of each exhaust pipe. A sight and sound to behold! The "Buick" turned
the engine over slowly at first, then faster and faster, until the J-58
was ignited and stabilized at idle, about 4000 rpm.
The reason for a direct-drive starter was because their (sic) were no air
starting carts capable of supplying a sufficient volume of air to rotate
the huge J-58 engine. The special lubricating oil used throughout the
engine was so thicjk that it had to be preheated to a minimum of 70
degrees C before the engines could be rotated. Whenever the SR-71 landed
somewhere other than a home base, it was a major task to transport large
and cumbersome "Buick" (about 4 feet by 10 feet) just to start the
engines, thus a portable air start system was developed in the late 1970s.
Eventually the SR-71 shelters (hangars) at Beale were equipped with large
air tanks to store compressed air to rotate the started adapter. Soon
"Buicks" were becoming extinct, and eventually the air start method became
preferred by maintenance."

I saw this air start adapter at Ramstein. 61-7974 flew in for a static
display in January 1984 for a former SR-71 aircrew member's retirement
ceremony. When the Blackbird was ready to leave, they put four AM32A-60
start carts on each side of the jet, eight carts altogether. The four
-60s' bleed air hoses on each side were coupled to a round unit that
obviously contained a turbine that was mounted on the bottom of the engine
nacelle. The turbine evidently drove a starter shaft connected to the same
place the "Buick" would have been. One -60 was sufficient to start an
F-4E, so my friends and I were duly impressed. I got a few nice photos of
974 being started and taking off, if anyone wants to see them I could post
a couple of them on alt.binaries.pictures.aviation. Let me know. 974
later on was the last SR-71 to crash before the program was cancelled. By
the way, there were 49 Blackbirds built, including the A-12, YF-12A, M-21,
and SR-71A and B. There were 20 losses altogether, the majority occuring
early in the program.
Scott Wilson

wrote a bunch of great stuff, but snipped for length


Sort of true. Quoting again from Rich Graham's wonderful book: "Starting
the
huge engine was accomplished by a direct mechanical drive to initiate
engine
rotation. The large starting cart used to turn the engine over was called
a
"Buick" because it originally had two large block Buick V-8 engines,
mounted
beside each other, providing over 600 horsepower to rotate the J-58
engine.

I got a few nice photos of
974 being started and taking off, if anyone wants to see them I could
post
a couple of them on alt.binaries.pictures.aviation. Let me know.

Yeah, post em up, if you will. I for one, would love to see them.

How will you title them, so they will be easy to find?
--
Jim in NC

On the same subject, I remember reading that the huffer to start a 71 had
a
Chevy 350 powering it, and that it took every bit of it.

Anyone? True, or not/details?
--

Sort of true. Quoting again from Rich Graham's wonderful book: "Starting
the
huge engine was accomplished by a direct mechanical drive to initiate
engine
rotation. The large starting cart used to turn the engine over was called
a
"Buick" because it originally had two large block Buick V-8 engines,

Even more impressive than what I remembered.

Also, what was the mechanism to turn all that HP into rotation, starting
from such a low speed, up to top speed? Torque converter, hydraulic pump,
transmission shifting progressively, or what?

Thanks on taking the time to do the write-up.
--
Jim in NC

On 1-Nov-2007, "Morgans" wrote:

I got a few nice photos of
974 being started and taking off, if anyone wants to see them I could
post
a couple of them on alt.binaries.pictures.aviation. Let me know.

Yeah, post em up, if you will. I for one, would love to see them.

How will you title them, so they will be easy to find?
--
Jim in NC

I don't know any more about the "Buick" than what I quoted from Rich
Graham's book. If you make it to Oshkosh, he's usually at the Virginia Bader
Aviation Art booth in one of the four display hangars up from AeroShell
Square. He'll autograph a copy of his two books for you, and is a most
interesting fellow to talk to.
My photos will be titled "61-7974, Ramstein AB, Jan 16, 1984, Scott R
Wilson.jpg" and similar. I'll post them right away.
Scott Wilson

My photos are posted on a.b.p.a. Unfortunately you can't see the air starter
the dash 60s fed that cranked the engines on the jet. I have some more
slides still in boxes, I'll dig through them and see if I can find one that
shows it. I wasn't allowed to get very close during the start, but I did the
best I could.
Scott Wilson

wrote in message
. net...
My photos are posted on a.b.p.a. Unfortunately you can't see the air
starter
the dash 60s fed that cranked the engines on the jet. I have some more
slides still in boxes, I'll dig through them and see if I can find one
that
shows it. I wasn't allowed to get very close during the start, but I did
the
best I could.

Fantastic, so far.

I LOVE the mach diamonds in the afterburner exhaust. I can't decide if it
is art, or physics. Or math, or music.

It is everything. All rolled up into one. Add in a couple parts hot and
sexy.

You know, as much as the new birds are hot, and do so many things better
than the 71, none of them have half the sex appeal, to me. That plane just
sits there now, wanting to fly. So sad that it doesn't.

So sad.

Did you say that you had a video of it flying? I would really love to see
that. Anyone know of any around?

There are only a few that came up on a search, and about half won't play on
my system..I gotta get that figured out.
--
Jim in NC

In article ,
says...

"John Godwin" wrote in message
...
"Morgans" wrote in
:

Is there a way you could share that video with us?

I'll try. You'll have to give me a little time.

Great! Let me know, if/when you get it pulled together. I'm sure I am not
alone in saying I look forward to it!

You bet!

--
Duncan

wrote in message
. net...
My photos are posted on a.b.p.a. Unfortunately you can't see the air
starter
the dash 60s fed that cranked the engines on the jet. I have some more
slides still in boxes, I'll dig through them and see if I can find one
that
shows it. I wasn't allowed to get very close during the start, but I did
the
best I could.
Scott Wilson

Thanks.

Al G

Morgans schrieb:


Yeah, post em up, if you will. I for one, would love to see them.


I have one older (about 10 years old) picture of one SR-71:
http://www.hotze.priv.at/album/pima/...sonicfront.jpg

location: Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.

#m
--
I am not a terrorist http://www.casualdisobedience.com/

On Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:18:56 -0000, John Godwin
wrote:

I recall attending the Rancho Murietta Air Show several years ago. One
of the highlights of the show (for me, anyway) was the SR-71 from Beale
coming into to the field at about 1000 AGL. When he crossed the
runway, he went to full power and pulled up; fortunately I had my
camcorder running. I got to admit it was absolutely awsome.

Back on the 50th anniversary of the braking of the sound barrier we
had one fly from California to OSH. They first made a pass East To
West right over mid field (just south of the Homebuilder's Center) in
formation with a tanker and an F-18.

I shot a series of images through the pass and a couple came out with
the flag, sun, and aircraft in a couple of nice shots. I'll try to
find them. I'll bet there were 100's of videos shot of that, but none
from that position. They then made a series of low passes down 18
followed by a run out over Lake Michigan to refuel. I don't remember
the time from California to OSH but as I recall it was just over an
hour. Unfortunately the refueling turned out to be a de fueling and
led to an emergency landing at the Greater Milwaukee Airport.

The plan had bee to head back to California and break the sound
barrier at 50,000 right over OSH.