Need help at DFW, we need a jump start
Who has enough truck to jump start a MD 80?
Forum Discussion
rhagfo wrote:
Pangaea Ron wrote:
Is American Airlines grounded again?
MD-80
Good call!
Get a little worried when the airplane you are on needs "assistance getting started"!!
No need to worry - the MD 80 and all of the newer passenger aircraft in use today have what is called an Auxiliary Power Unit ( APU) - that's a separate turbine engine usually mounted somewhere in the rear of the aircraft that can supply air on the ground for air conditioning and engine starting plus electrical power.
It's not required for most phrases of flight and the airplane can be dispatched if it's inoperative.
If it's inoperative, that's when the ground starting units are used.
Contrary to popular belief, some items and/or systems can be inoperative and the airplane still flown. Some restrictions such as flight altitude may be imposed when certain items/systems are inoperative.jus2shy wrote:
I wonder how long on the huffer it'd take to start those two tiny engines. Still the biggest pain in the ass to jump start is a DC-8. No APU and it takes sooooo damn long just to spin 1 engine up... then you have 3 more to spin-up afterwards! Even the 747's seem to take far less time once you spin 1 engine up, and at least it has an APU to pull air from to start-up so you don't always have to use the huffer to get things going.
Think a DC-8 is slow to start - no slower than a Boeing 707/KC- 135 and really not slower than a B-52 with 8 engines. That is until they installed cartridge starters on the later B-52 models.- Okay, I'm red faced. I misread your post and thought you were talking about a tow vehicle. Silly Me... :S:o
- I wonder how long on the huffer it'd take to start those two tiny engines. Still the biggest pain in the ass to jump start is a DC-8. No APU and it takes sooooo damn long just to spin 1 engine up... then you have 3 more to spin-up afterwards! Even the 747's seem to take far less time once you spin 1 engine up, and at least it has an APU to pull air from to start-up so you don't always have to use the huffer to get things going.
- Don't they have an auxiliary air start?
I think you need a rather large compressor - coach net if your a member.
- You might want to contact parking security. Quite often they'll give you a jump. My battery died while at the airport in Tucson one time and airport security was very helpful in getting me going.
