"Jon Elson" wrote in message
...


Boris Beizer wrote:

"Håken Hveem" wrote in message
...


What is a kaupfmann starter?



It is a compressed gas starter. A shell .. looks like a shotgun shell..
is
fired which provides the compressed gas that is used to turn the engine
over. It was, I believe, used as an emergency starting method for older
radial engines. I only know that it is called a "Coffman Starter" from
the
original Flight of the Phoenix movie, and from the book by Elleston
Trevor.
I had the spelling wrong. Not a "Kaufman" or "Kaupfmann" starter, but a
"Coffman Starter."

Boris



I think the spelling is Kaufmann, and it was also available as an
emergency starting
technique on the F-4. There were big warnings all over the place where
the cartridge
went to never store the cartridges in the aircraft. I think this
version of the thing looked
more like a 70 mm shell than a shotgun shell.

Jon
There was a story in the local newspaper last year about a guy who found an
'AA gun shell' buried in his garden, later discovered to be 'safe' as it had
no projectile in it; the shell had been in an ammo can and, clear as day on
the side, it still said '......Aircraft engine starting cartridge' (sorry, I
can't remember what aircraft it was). Possibly not quite as safe as he
thought. This was very large, about 3 to 4" in diameter by 10" long, judging
by the photo.
Martin
--
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