something to get you going
 

OK, 109 fans, if you have not seen it, the You Tube video link below will get your juices going, especially the first part with the 2 of them taxiing out. Below that is another one with black 6 during its flying days.

Two technical questions:

• Why do these engines sound so rough? It reminds me of my hot rod days when we used camshafts designed to overlap valve timing for increased burn and exhaust for increased power. The engines sounded like they were loping, just like these.
• I note in the black 6 film, the guys take a while to wind up the inertia starter. What happened if you were on cockpit alert and were supposed to take off rapidly? Could you pre-wind the starter? Would it hold a pre-wind without slowly losing energy while you were sitting, waiting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq21MLP8gYI&mode=related&search=

Re: something to get you going
 

The German DB engines seem to make that deep whining noise compared to an Allison or Merlin. Not sure if it's the supercharger or nose case gears that do it. The DB's run rich, always black smoke when pulling power.

On alert you would still need a mechanic to wind the starter for takeoff.

Regards,
Mike

Re: something to get you going
 

When engaged you can definitely hear the supercharger's high whine as the throttle is advanced. As for the rough note of the engine, i am sure there are many factors but one to consider is the diameter and shape of the exhaust pipe. This will most definitely have an effect.

Either way I've played my Black 6 CD to death and still love it; especially when it kicks over.

Stephen

Re: something to get you going
 

While, as I recall, the Fw 190 could be started by the inertial starter, the battery, or ground power; the Br 109 could be started only by the inertial starter.

And, as Mike noted, the starter needed to be turned at the time the engine was started. And, it appears that normally 2 ground crew were used to get that starter turning quickly.

Re: something to get you going
 

can only see one link ...was there another..?

Re: something to get you going
 

only one link as the site has the black video right below the others.

Re: something to get you going
 

Try this one. There's good footage of the groundcrew of Black 6 cranking the inertial starter over. Although the sound is correct, I have a funny feeling it's been dubbed from the wonderful audio CD Checkflight Black 6.

http://www.flyingmachines.tv/


Stephen

Re: something to get you going
 

thanks for that ...got the CD, the T-shirt ...but not the DVD. Ebay address is

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Messerschmitt-...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: something to get you going
 

Me too, the T-shirt and CD but I also got some patches, a crystal mug and a chance to sit in it and work on it way back in 1996/97.

I hadn't realized the link had changed. This should work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlUTFi3cN00