How to start a DC-3

Half the fun in flying any round engine airplane is in the starting. Here's how to start a DC-3. To read about our flight from NY to Seattle in April of 2007, go to www.dc3trnscon.com

My other flying stuff is at www.kentwien.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• dC-3
• C-47
• Dakota
• N877MG
• cockpit
• WWII
• Douglas
• airplane
• start
• Pratt&Whitney
• engine

[hAhan17]

Is the engines known as turbo prop???

[fly4fun]

@hAhan17 No, these are Pratt and Whitney R-1830 piston engines. Some DC-3s were modified to use turboprops years later.

[johnpetermalcolm]

@fly4fun

The first plane I ever flew in was a Gooney Bird, and I've had a soft spot for this top all rounder ever since. However. I've often wondered why it was never fitted out with the Packard Merlin?

[fly4fun]

@johnpetermalcolm Because, John, that would have made it just way too awesome. So amazing, in fact, that it would likely distract other pilots and even birds that happened to be flying at the same time. So they decided against it.

[Tubewaytorpedo]

I usually press CTRL + E

[paulmurphy42]

@vrmmarine Yes, I agree.

[vrmmarine]

@paulmurphy42 its for the oil presure!

build up pressure in main bearings before loading it!

and to prevent a hydro lock!, both is the right answer!

[tdope666]

I love this video but jesus how about a damn checklist? It seems like grandpa just yells some commands. Checklist. Checklist. Checklist!

[HelloHansSolo]

@fly4fun I pick my bum and lick my finger.

[tienint]

What does 8 blades mean?

[distructor20]

Putting turboprops in a DC3 is like putting an electric engine in '69 dodge charger. It just doesn't have the old-fashioned spirit.

[paulmurphy42]

@ximenoworks It is a contentious subject - whenever I have asked a different pilot I have received a different answer. I have a private pilot textbook which says it's to prevent a hydraulic lock, on the other hand I have spoken to many other pilots and mechanics who, like you, say it's to get the oil flowing round the engine. I think the only way to settle the matter would be to contact Pratt and Whitney...

[ximenoworks]

@paulmurphy42 I have my A&P and I do know about hyd lock but will not work on any general aviation acft ( I work on mil acft). But would it be better to manually turn the prop instead of turning it by the starter to check for hyd lock. I would think that if you did have a hyd lock and you turned it by the starter that you would twist the crank and then need to ground the acft for eng change. It seems that the 8 count is to prime the cylinders. Not to check for hyd lock.

[paulmurphy42]

@ximenoworks The mag check is done later, after moving off, at a point just after this video stops. The 8 count is when you count 8 turns of the propeller. This is to guard against the possibility of a hydraulic lock. In old radial engines this could happen sometimes, if a plane had been parked for a while, the oil from the top cylinders could drain down to the bottom of the engine. If you tried to start it without full oil in all of the cylinders you'd wreck the engine.

[paulmurphy42]

@AlanAirplane It is very easy to see the runway - you are high up and have a good view, the nose does not get in the way.