Re: SR-71 61-7974, engine start - "61-7974 engine start, Jan 16, 1984, Ramstein AB, Scott R Wilson.jpg" 176.9 KBytes

[[email protected]]

I think I remembered incorrectly, looking at my photo it appears there were
only four "Dash 60s" (AM32A-60) used, all on the left side of the aircraft.
I'm thinking that the four "Dash 60" bleed air hoses were coupled onto a
manifold, and one larger hose went from the manifold to the pneumatic
starter attached to the underside of the engine. It's been a long time and
my memories are very hazy, but I think after the #2 engine was started, they
uncoupled the larger air hose and coupled it to a started on #1. Damned if I
can be sure though. I went through my photos and couldn't find any in which
the pneumatic starter wasn't blocked from view by a Dash 60. I'm a little
disappointed. Too bad we can't go back in time, so I could try to re-shoot
my photos or take notes or something...
Scott Wilson

[Bob Harrington]

wrote in
. net:

> I think I remembered incorrectly, looking at my photo it appears there
> were only four "Dash 60s" (AM32A-60) used, all on the left side of the
> aircraft. I'm thinking that the four "Dash 60" bleed air hoses were
> coupled onto a manifold, and one larger hose went from the manifold to
> the pneumatic starter attached to the underside of the engine. It's
> been a long time and my memories are very hazy, but I think after the
> #2 engine was started, they uncoupled the larger air hose and coupled
> it to a started on #1. Damned if I can be sure though. I went through
> my photos and couldn't find any in which the pneumatic starter wasn't
> blocked from view by a Dash 60. I'm a little disappointed. Too bad we
> can't go back in time, so I could try to re-shoot my photos or take
> notes or something... Scott Wilson

Yeah - but then they'd have to kill you...

[J.F.]

Didn't they use some sort of start cart with "Buick Wildcat" engines. I was
stationed at Beale AFB for a couple of years and remember something like
this.

[J.F.]

Here's a link for SR71 Start Carts. I was right about the Wildcat engines.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/ag330_sr.htm

[J.F.]

Another link:
http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5758