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When I was pulling alert, cartridge starts were normal procedure. They were always in place on 'cocked' airplanes. The whole damn alert force would launch in 15 minutes. Cartridge starts have been around for decades. I guess someone out there is reading old SAC documents and 're-inventing the wheel.'

From AF Daily Report -5 Jan 09

Getting Airborne Fast: B-52H maintainers from Minot AFB, N.D., who have been deployed since October, to Andersen AFB, Guam, throughout last month practiced a method for launching the bombers much more quickly than regular starts. These exercises were intended to showcase the ability of the venerable bombers to get airborne within 10 minutes to reinforce their utility as a deterrent to aggression in the Pacific region. The Minot airmen, currently assigned to the 36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, used cartridge starts, or "cart-starts," to launch the aircraft. They entail inserting a small controlled explosive into two of the bomber's eight engines. "The charges basically jumpstart the engines, removing the need to bring out the aerospace ground equipment used on normal launches," said TSgt. Andrew Poole, 36th EAMXS crew chief. By removing these steps, the airmen can decrease the aircraft's startup time "from more than an hour to less than 10 minutes," explained Poole. Normally a B-52H is supplied with an alternate energy source and an air supply to start its engines. Using the cart-start launch, an engine with a generator is started immediately and the remaining engines are started while the aircraft taxis to the end of runway. (Andersen report by SrA. Ryan Whitney)

As you say its ain't new. I remember watching Royal Navy Sea Hawks in the 60's using cart-start. Very impressive for 10 year old boy like me!

Did the US ever use AVPIN to start their jets? That stuff was evil when compressed! Its chemical name is Iso Propyl Nitrate

VulcanDriver wrote:As you say its ain't new. I remember watching Royal Navy Sea Hawks in the 60's using cart-start. Very impressive for 10 year old boy like me!

Did the US ever use AVPIN to start their jets? That stuff was evil when compressed! Its chemical name is Iso Propyl Nitrate

I don't know what the propellant was. The smoke was very dense black. We (the crew) used to pull the old ones to help out the crew chief. They were about 8 inches in diameter and maybe 10 inches high. Had a domed shape at the top with a flat spring type bar across it. I think that was an electrical contact to fire off the charge. The base had 'dogs' that engaged a corresponding set on the engine. We never loaded the new ones. The crew chief had to do that.

AVPIN was (is) a liquid which is stored in its own tank in the aircraft. The tank fed into a chamber where it was compressed and self-ignited, the flame then started the engine. I did watch a ground crew do an AVPIN pump test on a RAF Lighting fighter during which the AVPIN was fed into a bucket for reuse. Is it dangerous doing that I asked, no said the Sargent , I can put a match in it and nothing would happen. But compress it and BANG!

I believe it was based on Nitro Glycerine!

A bit corrosive if I remember right. I was talking to a chap some years back who worked on Lightnings at RAF Binbrook. One cold winter’s morning he was filling the AVPIN tank and with the cold the AVPIN became more viscous, when he leant over to see if it was nearly full a bubble erupted from the bowels of the tank and spat the fluid into his face.
Nearby was a 45 gallon oil drum filled with water for such emergencies, so he slid down the trailing edge of the wing and ran to the barrel, grabbing both sides with his hands he plunged his head into the barrel, unfortunately the water had frozen overnight and he nearly brained himself. LOL.

Tony

Like it! One for the bar on Sunday