This week Aeroplane Heaven made their new C-47/DC-3 Manual available online before release of the model (thank you). Being one of those people that likes to read manuals, I downloaded it immediately and dug in.
Found a few errors in the manual, which I have reported to Aeroplane Heaven...however there was something in the manual which I found very strange and wonder if anyone else has seen something like this on a real-world C-47/DC-3.
On the 19th Page they go through an example of Starting the engines as follows:
Fuel tank selector........to choice
Battery Switch............OFF
Battery Cart (GPU)......Attached ON
Fuel Booster Pumps .... ON
Throttle ....... 1” open
Propeller ..........MAX RPM
Master ignition switch...ON
Right Ignition (Magneto) ...BOTH
Mixture control.....AUTO RICH
Engine primer......ON
Engine Starter (energise) .... ON
As the ENERGISE SWITCH is thrown, the propeller will begin to turn - slowly at first and then gathering speed. You should count “15 blades” at
least, before meshing the engine. This is equal to approximately 3 -4 seconds of energising before meshing.
Engine Mesh ...........ON and HOLD
Once the engine is running, return switches to OFF and disconnect the battery cart. (close crew door Shift/E)
Battery Switch........... ON
Fuel Booster Pumps .... OFF
So it sounds like they are using the Propeller as an "Inertia Starter"...spinning that up first and then "meshing" the engine to the Propeller.
I have some experience with, and working on, C-47/DC-3's. Those always had the starter connected to the rear of the engine and you turned 12 to 15 blades before energizing the mags.
Would like to see if anyone has any experience with starting a real-world C-47/DC-3 as Aeroplane Heaven details it...or any comments.
Thanks
Garry
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