Antonov AN-2 start procedure

[w3jn]

"...just that simple, and just that quick!"  From the boatanchor era of airplanes.

The inertia starter sounds like a washing machine full of hamsters  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxhSmeAqD0g

[W3RSW]

Is that cool or what?
Makes an AT-6 look like a little glider.

[W1AEX]

Very interesting aircraft. The start-up procedures for the Antonov AN-2 are almost as complicated as the tune-up procedure for my Viking when I move it from 160 meters to 75 meters.

[WB2EMS]

There used to be one of those up at our drop zone in Ovid NY. They originally bought it for dropping jumpers, can carry up to 14 or so and that's one of it's tasks in Russia, and also they use one for the golden knights at west point. But the F'nAA decided that they wouldn't certify it for hauling jumpers for civilians. They flew it to airshows and stuff around the northeast for a while, but couldn't keep up with the 66 gph fuel burn. I think they sold it to some folks down in Texas a year ago. Very funky bird. The engine was a copy of a Wright, close enough that parts interchanged I'm told. When it was empty, it looked like it was flying in slow motion. Acres of wing!

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

There's nothing like the sound of a radial popping away. You should be inside a B-17 or similar when they fire off 4 of 'em, Johnny. Talk about a chorus of chaos. Certainly not like firing up your typical Cessna or Beechcraft. But somehow, it all works out.

Makes you wonder how they managed to get of the ground!

[WA1GFZ]

Agree Todd, I was at an air show once when a B17 came in. It was cool and damp.
P&Ws idle so nice.

[WB2EMS]

Roger on the B17's. A few years back I was out in the back of my property cutting firewood and during a break heard that distinctive rumble up in the sky. I immediately looked up and there it was, a B17 headed north to south. At the time Fuddy Duddy was based down in Elmira, about 20 miles from here, and was going off to various airshows and it was apparently enroute back from one on a Sunday afternoon.

Every once in a while when shopping down in Horseheads, where the mall is right next to the airport, I'd see Fuddy Duddy out doing touch and goes. Pretty amazing listening to it come popping and chortling in over the mall on short final, then throttle up to a beautiful roar on the go. I was to an air show in Elmira about 10 years ago where there were 5 of them present at that field and they did a group fly over. Put a lump in your throat to hear them and think about what they'd been through.

There used to be some D18's based up in Syracuse with twin radial engines that I heard from time to time, but they were converting them to turbines and I don't hear them anymore. Every once in a while something with radials passes over and I always look up to check it out.

I'd love to see a radial start up with a Kaufmann starter sometime. Big shotgun blanks. I've only seen that in the movies.

[w3jn]

I've seen the B-29 "FiFi" start up - same dramatics with the 4 R-3350s.

[WA2ROC]

There is an AN-2 based over in Charlotte, NC and it's called "Big Bubbinski" .

When they fly it around to airshows, the comment they always make is that the plane is great to fly over baseball fields.

"You can actually watch 3 innings while we fly over the field".
 

[K3ZS]

I just spent a week in Kissimmee FL , just off the flight path of the airport, and home to the Warbirds museum.  They must have had a fly-in for WWII Navy Trainers.  They were flying over in 3 formations all week.   I was listening to the tower and it sounded like they were parking them all over the airport.   The sound of them flying in formation was unlike any modern piston aircraft.    The low rumble must have been from radial engines.   I enjoyed it but the noise must have bothered a few people when they flew over in the morning.

[w8khk]

I just spent a week in Kissimmee FL , just off the flight path of the airport, and home to the Warbirds museum.  They must have had a fly-in for WWII Navy Trainers. 

That was the "Sun and Fun" 36th International Fly-in, April 13-18. 

4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland, FL 33811  863-644-2431.

http://www.sun-n-fun.org/

I attended last year, but could not make it this time.  Awesome show!

[The Slab Bacon]

The inertia starter sounds like a washing machine full of hamsters  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxhSmeAqD0g

he should be glad he didnt have to use a hand-crank inertia starter!! ! !

Or "Berry Pills" God give me strength ! ! !   

[K3ZS]

That was the "Sun and Fun" 36th International Fly-in, April 13-18. 

4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland, FL 33811  863-644-2431.

http://www.sun-n-fun.org/

I attended last year, but could not make it this time.  Awesome show!

Damn, I went down to see our grandaughter the week before and came back on April 13.    Next year I'll stay longer to see the show.

[w3jn]

The AN-2 apparently does have the capability to hand-crank the inertia starter, if some newbie runs down the battery    That's not a job I'd want. 

What's even cooler than an inertia starter is a Coffman starter with the shotgun shells - see "Flight of the Phoenix" for an example of that.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

That's the flick I was thinking of too, Johnny. They really built the drama when using one of the few remaining shells to clear the cylinders. Hand-crank starters were big in WWII on fighters like the ME-109 and others. In that case, the crew wound up the starter spring and got the hell outta the way before the pilot engaged the starter.

The Kermit Weeks' Fantasy of Flight collection is at an old airfield just south of Lakeland complete with Art Deco era hangers. IIRC he has the largest private collection of classic aircraft. He was on my list of job prospects when it looked like we'd be living near Tampa. They have regular events there that any plane nut would enjoy.

http://www.fantasyofflight.com/

Last I knew, he also had a B-29 awaiting restoration and reassembly.

[w8khk]

The Kermit Weeks' Fantasy of Flight collection is at an old airfield just south of Lakeland complete with Art Deco era hangers. IIRC he has the largest private collection of classic aircraft. He was on my list of job prospects when it looked like we'd be living near Tampa. They have regular events there that any plane nut would enjoy.

Great museum, including a B-17 you can walk through in a dark hangar set up like an old WWII hangar, including sound effects.  They also offer biplane rides, they put you in the front seat and you take the stick!  I think it is an old Stearman, with a nice sounding radial. 

Fantasy of Flight is a bit north of Lakeland, near Polk City.  Fun and Sun is southwest of Lakeland.

[The Slab Bacon]

What's even cooler than an inertia starter is a Coffman starter with the shotgun shells - see "Flight of the Phoenix" for an example of that.

So what do you think a "berry pill" izzzz? ? ? ? ? ?        


OH, Yea, BTW I have 2 diesels in my collection of engines that start with hand cranked inertia starters. They actually work very well! !

[af6im]

I love jumping from old propliners. Here (see attachment 1) is a photo taken of me (Mark AF6IM) exiting an AN 2 about 7000 ft over Chanute AFB in August 2005. That AN 2 was a lethargic climber with 12 jumpers on a hot Illinois summer day. The FAA wouldnt let us buy rides in the plane so we formed a club, made the plane owner the treasurer, paid dues and jumped "free." I still have my club t shirt emblazoned AN 2 Exhibition Jump Club. The FAA was not amused but while they stewed, we jumped.

The event (World Free Fall Convention) had an on site pirate FM station that broadcast music and skydiving announcements. I could easily receive it 12 miles from the DZ. Federal rules were kinda treated as optional at this hedonistic gathering. There were rumors that the FCC was snooping around trying to locate the FM xmtr but it kept broadcasting. Maybe the FCC guys were distracted by the contingent of young Dutch women skydivers who decided to jump naked when the temp rose above 95 F.    

AM fans will love the photo in attachment 2, a Russian control head for a synth AM HF xcvr. I was told it still worked but was useless on HF aero freqs which all use USB. At first I thought it was an ADF but nope, it was an xcvr.

The third photo is me (low jumper) doing an evening jump from N26MA, a really sweet DC 3. I LOVE DC 3s.

In 2006 I and 85 fellow skydivers jumped from a chartered DC 9-21 jet passenger airliner 14,500 ft over Rantoul Illinois. Now I have some idea of how DB Cooper felt. It was literally a blast.

73
Mark
AF6IM

[af6im]

Here is a photo of my jet jump. WE even had flight attendants handing out candy. The Captain announced that we did not have to wait until the plane came to a complete stop at the gate before exiting.

73
AF6IM

[WB2EMS]

Very cool photos. How did you exit the DC-9? What door were they able to open in flight? I had heard DB used an emergency exit in the rear of the plane. Where's the suitcase of cash? 

[Sam KS2AM]

Very cool photos. How did you exit the DC-9? What door were they able to open in flight? I had heard DB used an emergency exit in the rear of the plane. Where's the suitcase of cash? 

DB exited the plane via the aft stair (under the tail) of a 727.

[af6im]

The DC 9 was flown unpressurized with the rear pressure bulkhead door open and the deployable stairs removed. We exited through the ventral door. Jumps are usually dirt cheap for experienced skydivers. Last week I paid $28 to jump from 18000 ft from a King Air 200. I can go to 13000 feet for $17.

The jet jump cost $100, but it was worth every penny. So were my pricey special jumps from a C 130A, B 24 bomber, C 54 and ATL 98 Carvair, Raven balloon, Schweizer glider and numerous helos. I still seek a Connie jump but it doesn't look likely. I also have my eye on a DC 7B and Boeing C 97 that are being restored to airworthy condition.

Anyone have info on that AN 2 HF AM xcvr pictured above? Was it a copy of any US radio?

73
AF6IM

[w3jn]

Dunno, but it's pretty rough and pretty cool, just like the rest of the AN-2.

[WA1GFZ]

My Dad used to play with a single bank Wasp in an outside stand years ago. They used to create cross drafts during jet engine tests.
Every time I saw the Pratt Wasp on display I went right for the carb and yanked it open. I've been doing it since I was a kid. Been about 5 years Maybe I should visit the hanger in EH.