om15 wrote:My best mate was an engine fitter, he severely damaged his hand after a function test of the avpin system went wrong and the pipe exploded in his hand.
om15's above post on the "Why are you here?" thread stirred the memory cells. The Wessex HAS Mk1 had an Avpin starter. What a lethal fuel that was, not needing oxygen to burn. Whenever it was moved on Ark Royal the tannoy used to blare out that Avpin was being moved between decks and smoking in that area was forbidden. If we went on detachment the winchman used to have to sit in the door of the Wessex facing outwards with the Avpin container between his legs. If the solitary engine failed then his job was to throw it overboard so we didn't crash with it on the helicopter.
Many a young Wessex co-pilot was warned that if the Avpin starter motor exploded - as it often did when the cartridge was fired - then if he didn't want the Captain's footprints on his face then he better get out of his window pretty damn quick. The starter was below the Captain's exit. The Avpin got blocked in the 'U' pipe at the base of the Avpin tank, this blockage had the result of blowing the front of the helicopter up!!! Fortunately the Wessex HAS Mk3 had a more sensible compressed air start system.
The Wessex Mk1 at Duxford (XS863) was retired from Boscombe Down because the Avpin starter exploded and with the age of the helicopter the fuselage damage was deemed not worth repairing.
One of the most impressive sights was that of a line up of Sea Hawks doing a synchronised start with the plume of smoke being exhausted upwards as each pilot pressed the tit. That - I think I'm correct in saying - was also a cartridge initiated Avpin system but I have my doubts now as I'm surprised that Avpin is still in use with the RNHF aircraft...anyone know?
[bbvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evds2fgo0_8[/bbvideo]