tinwhistle Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 The book is titled "Runway Visions" and I do not have it right here in front of me so I can't give you the author, however, he was a C-130 pilot out of CCK and the book is more or less his recollections of his flying activities in and out of Vietnam. I haven't finished reading it yet, but early on he speaks of the engine start procedure and specifically mentions "turning #2 engine" first. Is that a typo? I recall ALWAYS starting #3 engine first. Any ideas out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Tinwhistle, I'm with you. ALWAYS started #3 first. Maybe he forgot that everything is based on being in the pilot's seat and the #1 engine was to the left of the pilot. Sonny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaryRobinson Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 The book is titled "Runway Visions" and I do not have it right here in front of me so I can't give you the author, however, he was a C-130 pilot out of CCK and the book is more or less his recollections of his flying activities in and out of Vietnam. I haven't finished reading it yet, but early on he speaks of the engine start procedure and specifically mentions "turning #2 engine" first. Is that a typo? I recall ALWAYS starting #3 engine first. Any ideas out there? The author is David Kirk Vaughan. The book was available on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railrunner130 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I've read the book. It seems to me that things are done significantly different now than then. Perhaps his memory isn't what it was. However, I used to fly with an engineer that liked to alternate the engine start sequence because over time the engines would have different times on them. Made sense I guess. On your typical engine start, the #3 would end up with about 10 minutes or so more run time than #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NATOPS1 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 We would change the rotation of the first engine to save starters... Theory was the low pressure air made the starter run longer so by rotating the first engine started you would prevent the starter from failing due to the increase run time… Also started #2 first (closest to the GTC) when it was realllly HOT or at higher field Alts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I read the bokk a few years ago. Don't kow where I heard this, but I heard he got some flack for naming real names when he wrote about his fun times in Angeles City. Brought back good memories, though. Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 The book is titled "Runway Visions" and I do not have it right here in front of me so I can't give you the author, however, he was a C-130 pilot out of CCK and the book is more or less his recollections of his flying activities in and out of Vietnam. I haven't finished reading it yet, but early on he speaks of the engine start procedure and specifically mentions "turning #2 engine" first. Is that a typo? I recall ALWAYS starting #3 engine first. Any ideas out there? I am also with Sonny and tinwhistle--In my 33 months on A's and E's, that is the only way I ever witnessed start up!! I always thought it had something to do with powering the systems which was done by # 3. Of course us crew-chiefs only did what we were told!! Right guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donwon Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 When I was in we started #3 first then #4 and closed the GTC doors before starting #1 &2. I only worked on the A,s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 When I was in we started #3 first then #4 and closed the GTC doors before starting #1 &2. I only worked on the A,s. What donwon said!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GVS Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Seldom started #2 first or by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinwhistle Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 I am also with Sonny and tinwhistle--In my 33 months on A's and E's, that is the only way I ever witnessed start up!! I always thought it had something to do with powering the systems which was done by # 3. Of course us crew-chiefs only did what we were told!! Right guys? Well, we did what we were told most of the time!! My thoughts agree with Ken on this; I thought that #3 brought up all the necessary systems right away. As a side note: when I visited #877 a couple years ago I looked through some of the aircraft records and found that #1 engine had a little over 25,000 hrs on it, the other three varied greatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donwon Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 After thinking about this for a while, #3 starter went out the most especially when we were on a trip. We would take the starter off and install a plate and shut off the bleed air to the starter then start #4, then 1 & 2 then windmill #3 to start it. When we got to a place that had a starter that would fit we would change it. It happened more than once. Strange how these things pop up nearly 50 years later. Now if I could only remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Better yet what I did with all my money yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donwon Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 T.W. , when I left Sewart 56468 only had a little over 2500 hours on the plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Seldom started #2 first or by itself. Hey, GVS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 My thoughts. When I first started on recips years ago, I asked an old line chief about the start procedure. Which happened to be on C-131Bs with the crew door on the LH sde. Anyway. First start the engines on the side opposite the entrance door. That was in the evert of a stack fire, etc, the passengers, crew, etc., had a safer exit to leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GVS Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Hey,MTCC-thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f4enut Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 When did Crew Chiefs ever do what they told? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 When did Crew Chiefs ever do what they told? When they knew their maint. officer wasn't around!!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C130Hcc Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 When did Crew Chiefs ever do what they told? I "resemble" that remark!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Herk Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 When I was in we started #3 first then #4 and closed the GTC doors before starting #1 &2. I only worked on the A,s. I believe that's WHY we still start in the sequence we do: 3,4,2,1 And it's a great example of 4th generation monkey theory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenmonster Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 I was told that it is because the external air connection is right next to #2 and external power is on the left side as well. So while 3 &4 are being started the age equipment can be removed at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayj Posted August 24, 2014 Share Posted August 24, 2014 Back in olden times the loadmaster ( scanner ) had to close the Gtc door with a screwdriver. He would clear 4 and go close the Gtc door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinwhistle Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 I believe that's WHY we still start in the sequence we do: 3,4,2,1 And it's a great example of 4th generation monkey theory! Don't know what the Fourth Generation Monkey Theory is (although I have a good idea!), but ALL of the above reasons are good reasons as to why we always started # 3 first, all valid. So, I'm guessing that the author of the above mentioned book was simply a victim of faulty memory!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stygian USN Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 We had an issue with engine 3 one time, an issue with the pressure that they couldnt explain, so they started with 4, then 3, then like normal. I'm sure not all order's would work but this one met our needs at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in WV Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 IIRC "the book" recommended alternating the first if there were multiple stops during the day. We didn't normally do it but during Desert Shield/Storm we did because we were eating starters on #3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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