Once the start sequencing unit arrived from the UK, it was installed in about 5 minutes. We also obtained a ‘spare’ that had been hiding in a desk drawer at Cherry Point, so we were reasonable certain we had that part of the puzzle complete.
As Art Nalls sits in the cockpit, during the first attempt to start the engine 2006
Just to try it out, with the airplane in the hangar, I climbed in the cockpit and started the sequence. To my immediate surprise, the GTS started its sequence, while in the hangar! I immediately shut it down. We towed the airplane outside. There was no sense starting a fire in the hangar!
Once outside, the appropriate number of 25 fire bottles manned and ready, the fire hose standing by, and the ground crew spring-loaded to run away in case the whole thing exploded, I initiated a GTS start. This was to cycle oil up to the starter, fuel to the fuel manifold and get things primed and ready for a ‘real’ start. We had fueled the airplane with 50 gallons of jet fuel, the week prior, so there was still enough fuel in the tanks to do a very quick start.
As Art Nalls sits in the cockpit Leonardtown, MD 2006
The GTS fired off normally and the main engine started its sequence by rotating. The RPM and hydraulic gages immediately registered pressure and the control stick moved from the side to the center of the cockpit. The blow in doors along the side of the intake were sucked in, which is all NORMAL.
Now that the engine was turning and had compression, and we had spark with the igniters. All we needed was fuel, so I moved the throttle to idle. The Pegasus immediately lit off and achieved a normal idle, all perfectly normal. Temps, pressures, indications, were all normal, with the exception of the electrical system. They system was not charging and there were several warning / caution lights indicating that. That would not be resolved until subsequent starts, but for now, it was OK.
Art Nalls sits in the cockpit, during the first engine start, Leonardtown, MD 2006
The ground crew checked over the top and bottom of the engine and declared it basically leak-free. That lasted all of 11 seconds until we flamed out, due to lack of fuel.
We used 50 gallons of jet fuel in a single start and it lasted 11 seconds.
This was a precursor of what was to come….