Wildcat First Shotgun Start

[@FokkerBoombass]

It's not leaking fuel, it's marking its territory.

[@philgiglio9656]

Hey; it is a cat

[@adamhale6672]

Fancy seeing you here

[@finscreenname]

Now I understand why they had 5 guys with really big fire extinguishers standing around those planes when they started them. Throw in a over size shotgun shell and we have a party.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Truely a point about machines. You are worried when they did not pee/bleed/leak if you knew their seals did so., as you knew (if you were any good) that they had run out of such fluid if they stopped leaking. Otherwise you were a sham artist that just didn't care or was to stupid to know. Nothing like seeing a vehicle smile at you, saying it was ready, before you got on and fired it up.(except one other thing, the same thing)LOL

[@dukecraig2402]

@@chrisperrien7055 Most the machines back in those days had rope seals on the shafts instead of rubber seals, I'm not sure when the last year was that Chevy small blocks had rope seals for the rear main bearing seal but I distinctly remember in the 80's when I worked in a garage and we had an original owner '72 Impala that we worked on that had the original engine in it and I had to roll a new rope seal in the rear main bearing once because the one in it was beyond just marking it's spot. Also at the same time I had a girlfriend who had an early/mid 80's Cutlass with a 3.8 ltr engine in it that had a rope seal in the timing cover I had to replace. Even then today's modern rubber that's used in seals is light years better than the rubber used in them just 30 to 35 years ago, that's why you hardly see newer cars that have a big oval shaped stain underneath them on the road where they get parked every day, look in a family photo album that has pictures of kids playing out in front of houses from the 70's and you'll see those big oval shaped oil stains on the road where dad parked his car after he got home from work.

[@Askjeffwilliams]

love the sound of those engines running.

[@ADITADDICTS]

I grew up with that sound. My grandfather was an ag pilot for 70 years and both of his Grumman Ag cats were radials. Matter of fact the same company made his planes that made this wildcat.

[@jayshaw63]

@@ADITADDICTS Grummann designed the Wildcat, but the FM-2 version was manufactured by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors.

[@ADITADDICTS]

@@jayshaw63I was trying not to get too much into details here but yes the FM-2 was a direct copy of the XF4F-8. More power and had to adjust the tail and I think elevators as well. Lots of torque in the PW. Even though these were outdated and outpaced by the Corsairs, Hellcats and soon to arrive P-51s and P-47s the navy still flew these for anti-ship/submarine patrols off their smaller "jeep" carriers until the end of the war.

[@jayshaw63]

@@ADITADDICTS Look up the FM-2's kill ratio. You might be surprised at how it compares to those other fighters. It could out climb a Hellcat below 10,000 feet.

[@ADITADDICTS]

@@jayshaw63 Will do.

[@bubble_bass9716]

The most American thing I have ever seen by far... starting a plane... with shotgun shells

[@evanyang1969]

f22 too

[@JRbaldy]

Haven’t you ever seen the movie...Flight of the Phoenix?

[@bubble_bass9716]

@@JRbaldy yes

[@bubble_bass9716]

@@JRbaldy where the German guy rebuilds the plane? I dont recall them starting it with shotgun shells

[@pauljames1183]

@@bubble_bass9716 That is exactly what they did, part of the tension in the film was due to them running short of starting cartridges :)

[@fighterace066]

The Coffman starter uses a specially made 4 gauge paper shell with an electric primer. It is filled with .25" and .187" diameter cordite pellets for slow burning powder. The shell fires into a starter assembly on the accessory case of the engine, same position as an electric starter. It DOES NOT fire directly into a cylinder of the engine. The gasses force a piston inside the starter assembly forward towards the engine collapsing spiral gears on top of each other converting it into a circular motion. This engages the starter dog and rotates the starter gear. After the piston reaches the end of its travel a valve released the residual pressure and a die spring resets the whole process.

[@88mike14]

Is that a cartridge storage box inside the engine compartment?

[@falconeaterf15]

I assume that was a flywheel starter whining away before the Big Bang. I'm not sure I fully understand how this system worked despite your well informed explanation. Was the shell used to engage the flywheel and give the whole thing a boost in the process?

[@foxbat212]

falconeaterf15 I would think that the whining sound is a oil pump pressurising the engines lubrication system, or alternately a fuel pump raising pressure, both needed for pre start. The bang is effectively a air start system in this case a "shotgun" cartridge for a Coffman starter.

[@ckelley63]

Thank you for the information I had always wondered how these worked!

[@asswipecornholio5965]

falconeaterf15 fuel pump

[@rickcowan4664]

My late father, Jack N Cowan, a WWII Naval Aviator, described to me how shotgun shells were used to start his plane. Never knew how it worked until watching this video. Thanks!

[@faamecanic1970]

Very loose tolerances inside engine and having cylinders at the 6 oclock position for all that fuel and oil to collect in. If a radial engine has sat for any length of time you need to remove the spark plugs from the lower cyl and hand rotate engine to force all the collected liquids out of the cylinders or you will hydraulic lock the engine (bad).

[@shauny2285]

The original movie, Flight of the Phoenix, with Jimmy Stewart has a scene using this method to start the engine on the Phoenix.

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

That was a great movie. I watched it as a kid on a TV during a Saturday matinee. Then, of course, Hollywood had to "redo" what was already a perfect movie using bozos from today's Hollywood (de)generation. They were on a trend there for awhile, remaking movies like True Grit, etc.@@shauny2285

[@dukecraig2402]

The reason that the US Navy wanted Coffman (shotgun) starters on certain aircraft and the USAAF never messed with them has to do with emergency starts on a carrier deck. All those aircraft still had typical electric starters which were the principle way of starting them, but on a carrier if an aircrafts electric starter system failed it'd jam up every aircraft behind it, they wouldn't be able to take off because it would have been blocking the deck. Originally Coffman starters were used for a pilot restarting a plane after an emergency landing, back in the 20's it wasn't entirely uncommon for a pilot flying across a hostile environment like the American southwestern desert to have an engine problem they'd have to land and fix, if he was by himself getting the plane restarted by himself could be next to impossible, those were the days before electric starters on aircraft engines, fixing the plane was pointless if the pilot had no way of starting it himself, and the prospect of walking out of a place like the desert where you could be 100 miles or more from a tiny dot of a little 4 building town you probably couldn't find anyway meant a long and torturous death, but with a Coffman starter a pilot could fix his plane, clear any obstructions from a takeoff path and get in the cockpit fully suited up and get it started all by himself, without it good luck pulling a prop through by yourself and managing to hop in the cockpit on the one chance you have before the thing gets away from you and goes bouncing across the desert tearing itself up, something like that happens and you most likely were going to be in misery for the rest of your short life.

[@taofledermaus]

That's something you don't see everyday! Awesome video!

[@ArtyomPlatonev]

Of course you would be here Tao. it has to do with shotguns, so you are there. keep up the good work!

[@taofledermaus]

lol

[@natecaraway2000]

***** does this give you any ideas on what do do with a shotgun

[@taofledermaus]

No, I just like old airplanes. haha

[@ArtyomPlatonev]

***** The Wildcat is a cool one.

[@qpat300]

I love how every war vehicle I have encountered not only leaks fluid but absolutely pisses fluid unless its running.

[@xerxeskingofking]

i've had several air force guys say you start worrying when they stop leaking....that means they are empty.

[@GSD-hd1yh]

After watching "Flight of the Phoenix" 1965 with James Stewart, I expected this to be a hit and miss affair, especially because the engine hadn't run for so long. But that started so smoothly it was incredible. Whoever rebuilt this engine has done a really good job of it. Congratulations to all involved.

[@robertboykin1828]

REALLY !

[@MrSunrise-]

Yes, that was beautiful!

[@dukecraig2402]

Well the ending wouldn't have been so dramatic if it'd have started on the first cartridge in the movie, it's called the screenwriter wanting an Oscar, the same reason the sound engineer of Star Wars dubbed in engine noises for spacecraft flying by in the vacuum of space where there wouldn't be any noise, he wanted an Oscar also and wasn't going to get one if it was realistic and there was only silence instead of laser blasts and engine noises whenever the view is from the perspective of being somewhere close by in space. It's called "the magic of Hollywood", and don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing it, I love it as much as the next person.

[@Curien247]

She purrs like a cat, an incredibly disgruntled and belligerent Cat.

[@jacobbearman3856]

Curien247 a cat that you need a shotgun to wake up

[@philgiglio9656]

ask the Japanese pilots that fell to it...if you could.

[@fishhisy]

A wild cat you might say.

[@leolordful]

One might even say, a hellcat?... I'll just leave then, shall I.?

[@donaldtaeger918]

I used to go to the flight line with my Pop when he was stationed at Stewart A.F.B. In Newburg, N.Y.. The EB-57 Canberra’s that flew out of Stewart were started with shotgun shells. Very scary to see until Pop broke it down and explained it to me. Thanks Pop.

[@Scobragon]

That's the most American way to start up a warplane I've ever seen.

[@Deevo037]

Do you remember the movie Flight of the Phoenix? They used the same starting system in that. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6i8q3R8bseNgqs

[@glimpyrimpy6258]

That's what it was designed for

[@MikeStar2000]

Invented by Chuck Norris

[@karlkarlng]

Many old generators and tractors used the same starter

[@GlorifiedShed]

Yeah. Most likely to shoot a friendly :P

[@dj3037]

Always brings a tear to my eye when old war birds come back to life

[@XY_Dude]

cordite starter shells were also used on some early turbojets. Very efficient! No battery or heavy starter. Quick start, run-up, and go shooting!

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

+Tom Pauls Not too early. The huge J-75 on the F-105 was started with powder cartridges driving a turbine geared to the accessory section. The same starter could also be driven by an external start cart (Gas Turbine Compressor), and for a time the high cost of the cartridges led to use of GTC's previously used to start the J-57s on F-100 aircraft. The start carts proved unable to provide sufficient flow to start the larger engine consistently without risk of a stagnated start and possible engine damage, so the use of start cartridges resumed. This was in the period 1961-1963, and I don't know what practices developed subsequently for the J-75. I do know that the later development of large turbofan engines led to the requirement for two or even three large start carts, usually diesel engine driven, operating in parallel to start an engine when the on-board APU was not available to supply sufficient air flow.

[@richardoakley8800]

B 57's were cartridge started .. quicker and less electronics to go wrong

[@XY_Dude]

@ZaHandle Actually, those were initially started with support carts having twin Buick (later Chevy) V8's. These were coupled directly to the turbine until it spooled to about 4500 RPM, then they pulled the interface off. Later, the turbines were converted to air start.

[@advilpm359]

How cool is this fucking video and the comments …amazing.

[@beeenn649]

@@XY_Dude CORRECT! The 425 cid Buick Wildcat engines were getting scarce having used up the supply from every junkyard. Then they used the 350 cid Chevy engines which even today very plentiful.

[@denveraspen]

Great to see an old warbird in excellent shape. Most people don’t realize how good the manufacturing processes were, when it was made. 👍

[@stevenlangdon-griffiths293]

I am in absolute awe of the designer, engineers and craftsmanship of this outstanding aeroplane.

[@maximummarklee]

The first time I saw a Coffman starter used in this manner was when I watched Jimmy Stewart in the 1965 movie "Flight of the Phoenix", which was a Fairchild C-82 Packet; essentially a twin-boom boxcar aircraft.

[@racerx143]

Funny you say that because the first time I ever saw anything like this was in the remake of that movie.

[@k.w.churchill4397]

It was also my first time seeing it!. Richard Attenbouroh laughing hystericly when he found out about the Model Plane Builder

[@MikeBaxterABC]

There's still farm tractors in use to-day that use this style of starting.

[@afterburner2869]

Mark Lee Yep, same here. Flight of the Phoenix. I always wondered what was up with that. I didn't know if it was just Hollywood bullshit, but I guess it is a real thing.

[@SergioDuarteSilva]

Yes. I remember.

[@elitedavidhorne8494]

My grandad was Fleet Air Arm during the war on escort carriers. He described this process to me. Thanks for showing it to me. Wildcats and Swordfish for the win! RIP grandad.

[@davidprosser7278]

As did my uncle, whe was in the RNZAF serving as groundcrew.

[@tsmgguy]

Should have used one cartridge, ignition off, just to clear out the cylinders, as a tribute to Jimmy Stewart.

[@jimm3093]

That’s where both versions of Flight of the Phoenix (Dennis Quaid in the 2nd) got it wrong. The shell gasses never enter any of the engine cylinders.

[@Isnt-it-Lovely]

@@jimm3093 yes but turning a piston engine over, igntion off, while holding full throttle and wide open choke will clear them if its flooded

[@jimm3093]

@@Isnt-it-Lovely is that what happened when Jimmy Stewart and Dennis Quaid sacrificed a shell? Both the P&W R2800 (Stewart version) and the R4360 (Quaid version) exhibited massive combustions. Where those compression ignitions that combusted flooded fuel? I remember them priming the fuel lines in both versions by turning the props by hand. I don’t know if they overprimed both engines.

[@Isnt-it-Lovely]

@@jimm3093 thats probably more for movie magic. Cartridge start isn't as violent as people would like to think if the engine doesn't start. so you need something going on to build suspense. add a large bang so people understand that a cartridge has been spent and viola classic movie scene. Back to the original point though, If it doesn't start. (especially twice) Now you have a 46L double wasp(Or a 72L corncob), with wet fouled plugs gotta dry them somehow.

[@billg7813]

LOL. One of my favorite movies, not the remake. But after reading the replies to your comment, I see Hollywood was playing fast and loose with the truth for dramatic license. Still a great movie. "Start pulling Mr. Dorfman."

[@OneLastHitB4IGo]

Thank-you for saving this fantastic piece of our history. Can only imagine what a flight deck full of these babies must have sounded like!

[@3DPDK]

I have to comment here. I remember watching a movie "The Flight Of The Phoenix" (1965) when I was young and obsessed with airplanes. In that movie the characters build an airplane out of the scraps of a crashed one. The thing I didn't understand was that they started the engine with shotgun shells. I have always though, until today, that this was just a Gerry rigged way to start the engine. It made for a lot of climax tension because they only had three shells and the plane was their only hope for survival. I never realized this was a standard starting method for some of these old radial engines. I've watched a bunch of different videos today but this one has been the most educational. Thanks for the video.

[@kirkmorrison6131]

I love hearing those old birds coming to life again. I'm so glad that people are bringing them to life again.

[@royallhawaii]

Nothing sweater sounding than a radial engine running! Thanks for the vid!

[@wallacebell4311]

royallhawaii *sweeter

[@cofrbooboo]

Beautiful sight, beautiful sound! Thank you for preserving such a historical aircraft!

[@petcatznz]

In the original Flight Of The Phoenix movie (1965) they started the engine this way, great movie.

[@efromhb]

Too cool. My dad told me about the use of shotgun shells to start C-97s back in the day. Thank you for sharing this.

[@la_old_salt2241]

Sweet, she fired right up with no fuss. Great job guys.

[@dreamingfoxtrot]

A million views, 900 subs. Come on everybody, we need to thank this man for allowing us to see something rare!

[@Trevor_Austin]

I’m really glad somebody is taking the time, trouble and effort to preserve these pieces of history.

[@xipingpooh5783]

Awesome piece of history. A lot of brace young men held the line with that bird.🇺🇸 Semper Fidelis 🇺🇸

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Couple of years ago I had the rare privilege of watching up close as a Wildcat started up (electric starter), taxied out, and took off from Addison Airport in Dallas. What music that R-1820 made! Black powder starters did not die with the Coffman. They were used to start the J75-P19W engine in the F-105s where I was stationed in the early 1960s.

[@RandomGgames]

Hasn't started in over 70 years? Started like it was yesterday!

[@Verklunkenzwiebel]

Reminds me of "The flight of the Phoenix" with James Stewart

[@jonalarcon8564]

Exactly !

[@1112223333111]

Wow I'm gonna try this instead of coffee in the morning.

[@marcoscosta2318]

ᗒ╬ᗕ1112223333111ᗒ╬ᗕ i can imagine where you are gonna put shell ...

[@LNERMallard]

Well... it's been 2 years... you alright? Or did you actually try it?

[@Martin-xh1hd]

@@marcoscosta2318 in his ass?

[@savagetuner2404]

@@LNERMallard Well...

[@LNERMallard]

@@savagetuner2404 No response... I think he went through with it. 🙁

[@Mrcaffinebean]

Wow that thing fired up perfectly! What a smooth well designed system!

[@1946nimrod]

I've fired a double 4 bore (gauge in your country!) shotgun by Thomas Bland of Birmingham, England. Only with a light load, mind you, a mere 2 ounces of shot! It will cure you of indigestion, I promise! The Alvis Leonides engine in the Westland Whirlwind helicopter used an 8 bore blank and the wonderful Field Marshall tractors (single cylinder 4.25 litre diesel!) used a specially made 12 bore cartridge. Certainly beats winding a bloody great handle!

[@stanleyunwin2404]

1946nimrod host vessel

[@icspawn]

That coughing engine sound amazing. One the most iconic WWII sounds.

[@TYPE-zd3gm]

Cool! I have seen tractors started with shotgun shells, but had no idea the Wildcat did! Why not? Clearly, it works!

[@geezer652]

In the 70's, at William Tell, Tyndall AFB, I saw an RB47 Canberra cartridge start on both engines. That was cool!!

[@philgiglio9656]

Think you mean B57; B47 was an entirely different plane.

[@davem5333]

The shotgun starter system worked great on the crowded deck of a WWII aircraft carrier. No heavy, unreliable battery in the aircraft, no stud cart.

[@sam8742]

KZbin is really adamant I watch this so sure, you won this time algorithm

[@brt-jn7kg]

I've been around aircraft and the don't crop duster Community my entire life. I've sat in the presence of true greatness in the aviation industry my brother-in-law's father was the first American to compete in the international aerobatic competition. So when I say I was not aware that there were any Wildcat outside of a few museums that we're still flying please understand I know a little bit about what I'm talking about. This is marvelous this is beauty. Everybody gives Hellcat it's Pantheon like status but they forget it was the Wildcat that was in Midway and the buffalo that turned the Japanese back. God bless that generation never in the history of the world has one generation defended all future Generations in the entirety of mankind for all history.

[@Tatsukoa808]

Anytime you need a shotgun shell to start something, you are on the right path!!!

[@noomeron]

>4 gauge And here I was thinking you just had really small hands.

[@jakelamberton12]

This is really cool! This was a pretty common way to start aircraft in the 40's.

[@1970-p6d]

All around beautiful sight and sound. I wish my 1970 kick only Harley had that option especially in the winter when that 70 weight oil is it's thickest.

[@alswann2702]

Run 50 or 60 in the winter.

[@1970-p6d]

@@alswann2702 in Florida it's 50 in the winter the problem is it sneaks up on you then 70 becomes 90 light a sterno can and get a cup of coffee.

[@marktibbetts3799]

Well,that was AWESOME. And it started way faster than I thought it was gonna.

[@craigpennington1251]

Very cool indeed. When your battery is shot just blast it with a shot shell. Makes perfect sense. Hope these guys really get this bird in top shape.

[@robertsullivan4773]

Have heard of the shot gun start but never have seen it performed so clearly. Thanks.

[@cjesbensen997]

Radial engines are awesome

[@brucestucker5829]

SASQUATCH GAMING kk

[@brucestucker5829]

SASQUATCH GAMING h

[@brucestucker5829]

Xx cox b mbbnv Bvcxvszzzzzzxc

[@garymurphy5133]

What a great machine,great that there are guys around to keep these things working and what they meant.

[@nerowolf1234]

I don’t watch plane videos, so I have no clue why the algorithm showed me this.... but god dam that was a good video.

[@blondknight99]

Beautiful aircraft. That's awesome to see one well cared for and in working condition.

[@billyost1479]

Way awesome. She still has some fight left in her.

[@stansdds]

Cartridge starter systems were fairly common until the early 1940's. I think the F4U-1 Corsair was the last USN aircraft to be designed with a cartridge starter and that was changed to an electric starter motor with the introduction of the -1D/1C versions of the Corsair. Nice to see a warbird being restored with the correct starter system.

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

What ever guage shotgun that shell is for, I want one with slugs.

[@xeno3029]

MrRedeyedJedi the dude who posted this made a comment and he said it's 4 gauge

[@SpudEater]

xeno30 Use that shit for hunting and there would be no reason to send it through a meat grinder..

[@1978garfield]

Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZDHpXZsj7SFadk This is a 4 bore rifle

[@zxggwrt]

I think it is 8 gauge. It's a common industrial round or blank.

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

@@zxggwrt see above comments. Already been found to be 4 guage/bore...which can be used with slugs

[@troy9477]

Nice to see warbirds being preserved and restored. I didn't know much about the shotgun cartridge starting system. Nice to see how it works. Best of luck to you in your endeavors

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Legendary British testpilot Eric "Winkle" Brown had flown almost 400 types of aircraft, ranging from WW-1 era biplanes to mach two capable fighter jets. And from all those planes he cited that the Grumman Wildcat was bar none the favorite of them all.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

No, but he faced Focke-Wulf FW-200 Condors in them. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Focke-Wulf_Fw_200C_Condor_in_flight.jpg Don't be fooled here, the Condor wasn't that agile but it sure was packed with defensive guns. Brown flew from "escort carriers" during the battle for the Atlantic, where their duty was to hunt submarines and long distance maritime patrol planes such as the Condor. The Wildcat performed brilliantly from those and to show you what Brown was facing, here's a picture of one such carrier, note the Wildcats and Swordfish torpedo bombers stored in the open since there were no below-deck hangars www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/images/Ships/Striker_A.jpg

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Don't be so sure, one of the things Brown had to do as test pilot was to fly captured German planes which included the Fw-190 and the BF109 and his knowledge about those planes saved countless lives as his reports gave the fighter pilots plenty of pointers on what to go for when faced with either of those German fighters. Or the zero for that matter since he flew that one as well. To give you an idea how big an authority Brown was: the lend-lease agreement which supplied the British with American made planes included the notorious Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. After flying it, it was Brown's opinion that the Helldiver was totally unsuited for carrier use, let alone anything else. And the Admiralty listened to what Brown said and thus the Helldiver never went into British service. As far as Brown was concerned, those pilots and deck crew who said that SB2C stood for "Son of a Bitch Second Class" had his profound sympathy. But Brown praised the Wildcat for it being an easy to fly and forgiving plane which also could score a knockout punch. As for how easy a FW-200 Condor was to shoot down, I guess he could tell you from experience, experience you do not have.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Well, since you're on KZbin already, just type in "Captain Eric Winkle Brown" and just listen to what the man has to say.

[@nerd1000ify]

shanepinfist The Wildcat didn't perform as badly against the Zero as history documentaries tend to make out: the Zero was undoubtedly the better of the two, but the F4F wasn't helpless against it. The Brewster Buffalo on the other hand... Well it did okay against Italian biplanes in the middle east, but flying it against anything else was essentially suicide.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Ah yes the Brewster Buffalo. The Royal Netherlands East Indies air force operated them in Asia at the recommendation of the British who figured that more advanced planes like the Hawker Hurricane (!) would have been overkill. The method behind that madness? The fact that the high command were assured by spies that the Japanese Air force were "Nothing to worry about." Also given the fact that the Brewster had been rejected from US use since the Wildcat had surpassed it, made that it was cheaper to buy since those planes had been put into production to supply foreign forces like the RAAF (Australia), RNEEAF (Dutch east India) and the RAF. To make matters worse, the engines that were supplied with the Buffaloes were De-rated Wright Cyclone engines which overheated, yet the planes themselves were heavier because of the naval equipment still being fitted. And the final nail in the coffin: the machine guns were prone to jamming. Many Buffalo pilot to his frustration found that although a Buffalo could turn tighter than a zero, once you'd be on its tail, jamming guns meant that you still couldn't shoot it down. So was the Buffalo a total failure? Not for the Finnish air force it wasn't, because the artic climate meant that the overheating issues that the Wright Cyclone radial had in the Asian theater were not there anymore, add to the fact that the fins found a way to increase reliability of the said engines, meant that their Buffaloes were well liked by the pilots who flew them. Despite everything, even the Buffalo found its niche. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Brewster_B-339_Buffalo.jpg A Buffalo replica in Dutch colors.

[@bobsullivan5714]

Y'all can argue this any way ya want. But, when that thing fired up.....What a awesome sound!

[@okrajoe]

Sweet looking restoration.

[@Elmo1970A]

Never knew the Wildcat was produced this long, thought when the Hellcat came out they were done. Learn something every day!

[@groutaone]

If you guys are not to far away I would love to come out and shoot some video, thanks for sharing this awesome plane

[@billwelter4101]

Just like Jimmy Stewart in "Flight Of The Phoenix" !! Never seen this done, thanks!!

[@CaptainDavage]

The Wildcat was a helluva' little plane. Loved the video.

[@CaptainDavage]

Not quite. Though the Wildcat couldn't perform with the Zero, it was tough and rugged enough the hold the line at places Midway and Guadalcanal until better aircraft, like the F6F, could replace them. Commander Jimmy Thatch invented the "Thatch Weave" in an F4F to combat the Zero. When flown to its strengths the Wildcat was a brilliant naval aircraft.

[@curbyweaver4606]

CaptainDavage It was, indeed, a brilliant naval aircraft . . . just not as brilliant as the zero.

[@baymechanic1009]

+Curby Weaver the Zero wasn't brilliant. It was just light weight!

[@curbyweaver4606]

Bay, Lightweight and maneuverable, but the Hellcat could pull away from it and climb at a steeper angle before stalling. Many zeroes followed the Hellcat into a climb thinking it was a Wildcat just to find that cat on its tail on the way down.

[@jameshay7247]

No armor or self-sealing gas tanks made it that way. The Japanese traded protection and dive speed for range.

[@phiberoptick]

this is a thing of beauty. truly a thing to be preserved.

[@chestersnapdragonmcphistic579]

Only in America can you start yer engines with a shotgun.

[@phlodel]

Lots of marriages were started that way.

[@butlerproman]

Well, unless you have a European tractor from back in the day, some of them had shotgun starters. Some of them also used the steering wheel and column for a crank.

[@chestersnapdragonmcphistic579]

It's Independence Day, can't you think American?

[@butlerproman]

Chester Snapdragon McPhisticuff You made a factually erroneous statement. I was merely pointing out gently that it wasn't quite true. I certainly don't fault you for expressing your admiration for a clever design or for America. I hope you will forgive me if you felt I was raining on your parade - that was not my intent. I just have a strong reaction to "Only in (name of country) do you have (object or activity)" because it's almost always not true. Funny you should ask about thinking American, because yesterday I was thinking about how I have a greater fascination with American planes even though I appreciate the designs of planes from other countries, a number of which are arguably better planes than their American counterparts.

[@chestersnapdragonmcphistic579]

well I was just trying to make a funny comment, but you turned it into an argument, so...nahnahnahnah boo boo, I laugh more than you do.

[@bigdogbob845]

What a Beautiful Old Bird, and I have Always Loved the Distinct Sound of a Radial Engine ! ! !

[@firestorm165]

Hasn't been started since the 40's and she still purred like a kitten first time. They don't make them like they used to

[@cggage]

I knew of these but had not seen them in operation. That's remarkable how well that works.

[@BigAdam2050]

Shoulda used one, ignition off, just to clear out the cylinders.

[@NCLUSA]

That's what James Stewart did ( :

[@workonesabs]

in Flight of the Pheonix

[@BigAdam2050]

Paul Marsh To butcher a quote "if you have to explain the joke, there is no joke"

[@workonesabs]

In the film, he used one cartridge to clear the cylinders out - to the disdain of the other colleagues. watch the film.,..

[@leonvdm]

the other person is just not that intelligent

[@SelfDisembowelment]

absolutely beautiful, brilliant piece of engineering.

[@1978garfield]

Amazing what they were able to do with paper, pencil, slide rule and hand machining.

[@winkerdude]

My dad was on the USS Lexington CV-16. He wondered for years why expended shotgun shells littered the deck. He assumed the officers were skeet shooting.

[@brucestucker5829]

winkerdude Vvcx vhgo m

[@dieselyeti]

Well there's a huge FOD risk right there..

[@sillyone52062]

dieselyeti FOD affects jets much more than prop planes.

[@dieselyeti]

True, but it's the cardinal rule in aviation (esp naval aviation too I'd think)

[@tinkmarshino]

dang...very cool.. the sound of these old birds just makes me shake with excitement all over..

[@catman351]

Didn't the call this a "Coffman" starter? I saw something similar in the original "Flight of the Phoenix" when Jimmy Stewart loaded starting cartridges into the engine before using one up to blow out junk from the engine.

[@crispinjulius5032]

Gorgeous. These old warbirds are a thing of beauty.

[@justins.1283]

Love seeing an old warbird restored, I hope you are restoring it to flight ready condition. It would be awesome to see it in the air again!

[@Ryzen_56X]

The only flaw I find on this starting method is that you only get one shot to start the engine, what happens if the engine stops during flight? how can you restart it under those circumstances? I can't imagine during combat in WW2 it must of been hell for those brave pilots over the pacific.

[@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785]

A beer keg with an ironing board shoved through it... Does it fly? Nice startup! Great bird! They don't make 'em like they used to...50 years from now, I doubt any modern plane or jet that's been parked for so long will start up so cleanly.

[@blusnuby2]

No worries---there`ll always be a "motor head" around to kick-start`em...

[@CharmsDad]

What a beautiful classic aircraft. I hope you’ve managed to get it completely restored and flying.

[@vettorescap3445]

A lot of old industrial diesel engines were started the same way

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

I know people that still have old trackers. That start this way.. The damn Cows and horses go ape shit. Not to mention. Never start them during hunting season. They will haul ass 10 miles away..But your neighbor will love you for it.

[@joefranklin8874]

That's beautiful. I've seen lots of old Field-Marshall tractors with shotgun starter but not a plane. Freakin Cool

[@juanasanelli6831]

The cartridge is fired with a very similar system to a hunting rifle and gunpowder gases moved one piston in a cylinder As the piston is moved to rotate a worm, as well as the tops of toy or worm screwdrivers Rotation of communicated to the worm the gear train engine and imprimed a violent turn. It was always very effective an sure. Aways start

[@kf4293]

I had no idea that was how they started the wildcat! Thank you so much!

[@Blaze0357]

*_Classic American Iron_* Super cool. Of course she's going to start man.. she's American. Boy, I bet those shot shells are worth some bucks by them selves.

[@DisorderInOrder]

literally the coolest thing I've seen in a while!

[@MarsFKA]

Back in the 1960s, I knew a guy who had been ground crew on Bougainville with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in World War 2. At the time, the RNZAF was operating Corsairs that had been obtained, second hand, from the Americans - a lot of them from the Marines. Some of the aircraft were getting tired by the time they came to the New Zealand squadrons, in particular, the cartridge starters. Sid said the wear and associated gas blow-by was so bad they had to empty two cartridges into the breech before inserting the final cartridge. He also said the engines, when primed, were so full of fuel that, if they didn't start the first time, they caught fire on the second attempt. They fitted a one-way valve on the inlet manifold and if an engine started flaming, they could plug a CO2 extinguisher into the valve and put the fire out.

[@danh5150]

Just because it's old, doesn't mean it isn't good. Quality is timeless. ;o)

[@garyharris1932]

I had a used starter shell but while I was overseas my dear mom got rid of my stuff. Those things take up so much room. Just look at the room that was saved.

[@garylangley4502]

Wow! It sure starts easy and runs nice. It is something to be proud of.

[@mrdisher163]

This makes me so proud to be an American, more so than I already was.

[@lonelybikr]

Absolutely amazing. I hope it's around forever.

[@Avus95]

I would love to see this detail added into War Thunder! I thoroughly enjoy flying the Wildcat, as well as the Hellcat, and I think this little detail would bring a whole new level of historical accuracy and enjoyment to the game.

[@KiwiKaosAgent]

its great to see examples of these classics still running, now for someone to do an old TBD recovery and restoration.

[@baraodometal8845]

simplesmente lindo e muito criativo para aquela época

[@kevin_6217]

That worked incredibly well.

[@Ken-fh8iv]

Some days, I DO wish I was rich...

[@Legoperson75]

Pretty cool that the wild cat has a dedicated box for the carts. Looks like the entire assembly is somewhere in the gear well.

[@ColeAviation]

👍AWESOME video Conrad!!!! I haven't seen a start like this is a long time. Great job on the restoration! 👍She's BEAUTIFUL!!! There's nothing like good old history! Wouldn't you love to hear all the story's that plane could tell you if she talked... 😀 Wish you many many years of enjoyment out of her! Happy New Year sir!!

[@AmerAhmad]

Great video. I always thought the cartridge start would put the engine through two or three laborious rotations ( flight of the Phoenix , Hollywood) but am surprised with the speed the engine turned. Perhaps the engine was aready primed and rotated to a very wet ready to fire position and caught on many cylinders from the word go. Nice

[@MrFrontenginedragste]

Remember that the 3350's off of the C-119 used in the movie have gear reduction units to slow the tip speed of the propeller blades so that they don't go supersonic at WOT. As a result, many large radial engines appear to be turning slowly during start up. Actually, the engine is turning faster than the propeller.

[@lberia]

Glad to hear the old girl turn over after all these years. BRAVO ZULU boys.

[@panther105]

Dayum!!! Not the slow, suspenseful startup like I was expecting (Flight of the Phoenix style)....That was immediate. So cool.

[@welshpete12]

Would this be a similar system, used to start the early RAF Cambria jet ?

[@fighterace066]

welshpete12 Yes, somewhat similar. Same company built them but different mechanics.

[@Booshka823]

+welshpete12 If you mean the "Canberra" then yes it is. :)

[@mytmousemalibu]

+welshpete12 Cartridge starters on jet aircraft send the propellant gasses to a turbine starter which is usually the same starter unit used as an air turbine starter on jets that started either way. The B-52 is like this. The engines have one air turbine starter which is powered 3 ways, air supplied by a ground "start cart", by bleed air from an already running engine, or a cartridge. Today, almost everything is bleed air started off of an APU in the plane and the smaller engines can be electric start. Older military planes, some still have cart start for backup, most are APU bleed air or JFS, jet fuel starter, which is a tiny turbine engine that starts the main(s) which is primarily on fighters. The old Canberra had cartridge start capability. The old English Electric Lightning used an Avpin starter. Works in the same way a solid fuel cartridge starter works but burned a liquid fuel called Avpin, which is Isopropyl Nitrate if I remember correctly

[@welshpete12]

+mytmousemalibu thank you for your info .

[@mytmousemalibu]

welshpete12 No problem! I live, eat, breath and sleep aviation!

[@ChiCan76]

Not sure why this showed up on my feed in 2021, but I'm glad it did - awesome!