Ponderous Polly C-123K Startup

Ponderous Polly starting the Pratt & Whitney R2800 engines. Skip to about 2:10 to avoid the dull part.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• airplane
• warbird
• C123
• Provider
• C-123
• C123-K
• C-123K
• R2800
• R-2800

[Raguleader]

I can't help but find the jet engines to be pretty entertaining. I guess they stopped doing that when the prop engines got more powerful?

[mvstargazer]

@Raguleader - It is certainly different! The jet engines are to provide additional power for takeoff on short fields. They aren't used at cruise. Another difference is that these jet engines run on gasoline (100LL) so there is no separate fuel system required.

[SgtGrant23]

does the 123 have reverse pitch?

[mvstargazer]

@SgtGrant23 - The C-123 does indeed have reverse pitch. It made a big difference on the short fields in Vietnam. We only use it to back up when positioning the aircraft.

[Koaslice191]

Polly is no more...she crashed in Denali Park last year and her pilot/owner was killed.

[mvstargazer]

@Koaslice191 - Polly is alive and well. The Denali crash last year was another C-123 N709RR, "Large Marge." "Large Marge" was used in the flying scenes in the movie "Con Air" and was owned and operated by a small Alaskan air freight company, "All West Freight," at the time of the crash.

[cmtecarvalho]

Great video, marvelous sound! Tell me: all that white smoke right after startup is due to excess fuel in the cylinders prior to a cold start? Best regards!

[hearsejr]

Hey, Does Tom Kravis still hang out withn you guys and Polly? I'm Bill "Jr" Leggett, the Beaver crew Chief. if you guys see the ol' Top Cat. please tell'em I said "HOWDY!".. lol.

[Koaslice191]

@mvstargazer

I stand corrected. Sham it crashed, that is a nice plane.

[mvstargazer]

@mrdeisel335: The C-123K has an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) that supplies 200 amps at 28 volts to start the engines.  That's the sound you hear before the first engine cranks... the "putt-putt" sound that another poster mentioned.