Cold starting a Spitfire

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Chuck
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Cold starting a Spitfire

#1 Post by Chuck »

Political Correctness is the language of lies, written by the corrupt , spoken by the inept!
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25Pdr
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#2 Post by 25Pdr »

Does it have a starting handle in case the Battery is flat? :run:
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GeeRam
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#3 Post by GeeRam »

25Pdr wrote:Does it have a starting handle in case the Battery is flat? :run:
Nope.....

But the Me109 did though :good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sz5t-m9IOE

:D
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Dark Skies
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#4 Post by Dark Skies »

"I don't like my job and I don't think I'm gonna go anymore."
Andy632
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#5 Post by Andy632 »

25Pdr wrote:Does it have a starting handle in case the Battery is flat? :run:

I've worked on quite a few engines that had clock-work starters.

http://startwell.com/products/
Rifle & Pistol Shooting in the Highlands with Strathpeffer Rifle & Pistol Club.
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nickb834
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#6 Post by nickb834 »

In the Army we had 40KVA generators that you used to hand wind a lever to compress a spring - then release all that tension to kick the engine over.

Some old tractors were started with shotgun cartidges..........
charadam
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#7 Post by charadam »

I have hand started a De Havilland Beaver.

It has a 9 cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine and was equipped with a flywheel actuated emergency starter that you wound up to speed with a foot-long crank handle. The pilot then hit the button.

I was so knackered I nearly fell into the prop when it finally started.
"Nonsense - they couldn't hit an elephant at this dist.......................".
glevum
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#8 Post by glevum »

Starting a Swordfish is hard work as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAqGfHlY0fU
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Mauserbill
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#9 Post by Mauserbill »

When the Germans found difficulties in starting engines on the Russian winter front
they came up with the novel idea of "lets start a fire under it."
Suppose the idea was the liquefy the frozen oils and allow easier turnover.
As most of there kit was petrol driven wonder how they did this without blowing things up !
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Re: Cold starting a Spitfire

#10 Post by glevum »

They were not just used on the Eastern Front

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/engineheater.htm
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