F-15 Engine Startup Runup Pre Flight 131FW 131BW 78-0521 

the low rumbling is just the sound of the engine getting up to speed, when you hear the JFS spool up to speed its already spinning the motor, (reference 8 years of F-15E experience)

The JFS is already up to 100% speed and is already spinning the motor of the first engine. After the JFS has spinned the engine to about 20% the pilot moves the throttle from CUTOFF to IDLE,which introduces fuel into the combustion chamber and ignites the igniters. At the end of the engine start cycle,when the engine has a good start the JFS disconnects,and the engine is running normally providing thrust and electricity.

Thank you for indexing the startup events! Pinned!

@@DavidSpecialis Thank you for the added info!

@@AGENT47ist Thank you for the explanation!

Agree 100%!

I love the Su-27 startup rumble 😎

Very true! 😊

Its good, but im a big fan of the f18c apu starting and the howl as the engines spool.

I agree 100%! Goosebump generator every singe time! Thank you for sharing your experience. :)

So glad you got to visit the flight line often. I've only had a handful of opportunities, most of them being when Dad worked on F-4 Phantoms. Those are a great aircraft to behold as well. :)

@@AlsAutoandAppliance A pain in the butt for maintenance, but a sight to behold!

If the F15 starting up makes you consider joining, it's the crew chiefs that make the magic happen in that regard. 💯

I currently work on the 35 rn, and for whatever reason that thing is obnoxiously loud. Ive heard all other fighters, and this one is by far the loudest, even starting up the main engine it shakes everything with an explosive bass sound.

Thank you for commenting and sharing your experience. My building was at the end of one of the runways and sometimes they'd leave in groups of 3 or 4, climbing straight up to get out of the commercial pattern, right over the top of us, giving us a great view of looking straight up the nozzles and basking in the freedom rumble till they reached their designated altitude and throttled back. Sure miss that.

Mach 1.1, 8.3gs!!

100% whole-heartedly agree!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! You, as a pilot, get the bonus sounds as heard from the cockpit while on the ground and in-flight...so envious! I'm saddened the 131FW was BRAC'd from St. Louis, as I would have loved to take some nice recording equipment out and capture the many sights and sounds our fighters had to offer.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance My biggest pain in the ass is closing the canopy. It mutes so much of the awesome sounds... it's just... sad. However, I have been thinking about this as long as my carreer has started (and that is 13 years at this point. Putting contact microphones around the APU/JFS and on the hull near the air intakes should do the trick. Unfortunately, my boss wants to do nothing about this, so... for any dudes who wish to experiment and has a commander who is more understanding...

Can they start up and launch faster than in 12 minutes ? What about scramble time for example, is it any faster?

@@thunderchiefj7 It is different. F18s are very fast to start and launch. If they are on alert duty, it takes a bit less than 5 minutes from when the alert sounds. When on land, I tend to hang out with my ground crew a lot (bring a laptop for paperwork), so usually I can be in the cockpit in a few seconds after throwing everything away and putting the G suit on, and can start the APU and sometimes an engine crank even before settling into the cockpit. On a ship, the aircraft is already lined for the cat and the waiting room is just below the flightdeck.

@@thunderchiefj7 Scramble time is less than four minutes from the time the horn sounds.

Thank you so much for your kind words. Hard to believe he's been gone for a year now. 😔

TheGamingFox209 I was a Crew Chief on the F-15from 1981-1986. This is music to my ear’s also.

Here currently. Hasn't changed one bit.

It is a beautiful sound!

I always envied my dad. When I joined the military, I wanted to work with avionics but wound up getting into combat communications. Dad was lucky enough to earn a ride in one.

Thank you for sharing your story.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance my pleasure!! I enjoyed it!

Thank you for your service! I got to sit on an F-4 when Dad worked on those, but, unfortunately, not an F-15. Hope you get a chance someday!

@@AlsAutoandAppliance thank you and that is awesome. F4s were sweet.... And very very loud from what I've heard. I do sincerely hope I get to go up in an F15 one day. It's been a dream since I first saw them. Was going to become a pilot on one active duty but I never did finish out my schooling for my bachelor's degree so I could commission

@@tftrainman During my time in the Air Force, (I was a senior airman) I was airman of the year and was up against the NCO of the year and Senior NCO of the year to get a ride in and F-15. Needless to say, thanks to senior ranking politics, the senior got the ride. My dad, however, got a ride. He had a huge grin on his face before they launched, and had an even bigger one when they returned, despite having lost his lunch in the process, lol.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance that is awesome!!! I never was shit hot enough to get any awards worthy of a ride lol. But that is sweet. One of the guys on my shift at work is a fire chief where he lives and was in charge of helping find the bodies of the 2 navy guys that went down in a T45 here in Tennessee. Needless to say he became good friends with the commander in meridian where the jets were from and he went down and got a ride on a T45 even got to take the stick for a bit. Another guy on my shift is a boom operator and went up in a 16. Lucky bastards!!! Lol

I agree 100%, but I am also biased a little since my dad is CCing. 😊

Make sure an apply for that hearing loss/tinnitus disability! :)

Not sure if that is happening automatically or manually. I asked dad, but he is having a difficult time remembering which it was.

The F-15 has variable inlet ramps (unlike the F14) that are automatically controlled when the switch is in AUTO. If the switch is in EMERGENCY, the ramps are locked in the up position. When the engine is starting, once it hits I believe 50% (I honestly can't remember the number), the ramps will move down automatically. He was probably just cycling the switch to make sure the system worked. There could have been a check in the forms to do this. It isn't uncommon.

@@austinfifield1365 Thank you so much for contributing these details!

Was that bitburg in the big two two nothing like hearing those engines start up

I know! I didn't notice it till editing the video either. Going to ask dad about what's going on with that. I'm guessing it's to change flow or velocity during starting.

Found this wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intake_ramp

@@AlsAutoandAppliance the main purpose of the f15 moving intake is to ensure the engine can grab air correctly at different angles of attack

@@slickstrings Thank you for your insight! Pretty cool feature. Do other aircraft have this feature?

@@slickstrings incorrect it is to ensure the engine does not receive air too fast specially at higher speeds as there are multiple bypasses inside the intake as well to divert air away from the engine.

That is cool to hear you’re working on that ac. Please do tell what are the “no-no’s now. 😊

The big three things I saw on initial start up, was when engine two starting up he went over to make sure that the inland veins on the intakes were spinning. That’s a big no-no next he took out the canopy strip and the ladder before start up of engine one that was real weird and someone who is trained on 15E and is a crew chief on them right now my heart jumped a little bit. Awesome seeing what they would do for 15 years ago and I’m gonna be honest with you. If you watched me do it today it looks a lot different a lot more fast-paced. Usually we’re getting the plane in and out in two minutes.

Strut

@@minecarfter273 Thank you for the explanation. Assuming the engine on the side in view is #1, why is removing the ladder and strut before engine startup less safe than afterward? Logic tells me there is risk of ingestion if you do those activities after the engine is started.

You’re so lucky and I’m so jealous! 😊

and a nightmare to replace... (current F15E crew chief)

Dad was stationed at Luke until 80 or 81. We lived in Chandler first (Williams) then moved to Phoenix when he transferred to Luke. I have fond memories of visiting the flight line with me on his shoulders. :)

Understandable, especially with the recent mishap with a ground crew member getting sucked into a running engine. :(

Well the left engine hasn't started yet so he's good

I came super close to getting an incentive ride but got beat out in a drawing between two others. I was a junior enlisted airman and a senior "won" the ride. Rigged? Maybe, lol.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance you know that old saying "rank has its privileges"

@@AlsAutoandAppliance I was a lucky E-4

Thank you for sharing and thank you also for visiting.

Yes. CC is Cecil. I'm not sure on the others.

Was just informed Joe "Big Country" G was sitting in the corner.

I'm not 100% sure on the chronology of where it served. It did spend time with the 131FW in St. Louis before the unit was BRAC'd. I will post once I get a good answer.

If you arrange comments by "newest first", the post below yours has a couple of good explanations. :)

@@AlsAutoandAppliance thank you very much. Here is the comprehensive answer for future curious minds: "The Great Book of Modern Warplanes: F-15 - Structure p.89-90 "The only examples of variable geometry in the F-15's structure are the engine air inlets on either side of the forward fuselage. Because the aircraft was designed to be flown at high angles of attack in combat, the intakes are able to 'nod' up or down to keep the aperture facing directly into the airflow in order to maintain an adequate supply of air to the engines. The intakes are pivoted at their lower ende and adjusted to angles of 4deg above or 11deg below the horizontal by the air data computer. The intake angle can also be adjusted to prevent more air than necessary being taken in, and the intake surfaces have further function in providing additional maneuvering control in a similar manner to canard foreplanes. At super sonic speeds their effectiveness is almost a third as great as that of the stabilators, whose size and weight were reduced in consequence. Immediately aft of the intakes themselves are twin mechanically linked ramps to control the shockwaves created in the incoming air." So they nod to match the AoA (as a benefit of which it provides flow control as a canard) and also nods to reduce the intake aperture at high speed."

After replaying it several more times, I noticed the engine sound really decreasing rapidly when the inlet was lowered. Very interesting. I'd love to know why that was important as part of the startup procedure.

Thank you for your kinds words. It's difficult to watch this video without losing it. I still miss him dearly. Also, thanks a bunch for the tip. I'm new to the use of pound signs to direct traffic. :D

That's awesome! :) Maybe stick some foam ear plugs in, then put the headphones over that. Might be the best simulation of being there, lol.

True!

I never knew this either. I asked dad about this function, but, unfortunately, his dementia had already started to take its toll on him and he could not remember. There is a nice discussion here with a good diagram: www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=53492

@Who Cares Thank you for the description of the function.

Very good question! The space behind the pilot is where some of the avionics are installed.

Space for groceries....

The space behind the pilot consists of several things, the hydraulic arm for the canopy, the ejection seat initiators and also SOME of the avionics. Not all. I have trained on every corner of that jet in my career and it's also my favorite. It's one jet I'll never forget anything about.

@@tftrainman Thank you for the info. Dad is having a hard time remembering things even though he's worked on eagles since the late 70's up until he retired around 2009.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance you're very welcome. I've crawled over ever inch of the eagle as military firefighter and it has also been my favorite jet since I was a kid. My only regret is I have not gotten to ride on one yet I would love to

Just curious what your observations were that are not in line with current TOs.

Pillows or F-15s?

The F-15 line of jets have a JFS and not an APU - and it is actually faster than an APU. The two systems are radically different in their operation, though the end results are similar. By the way, this is a perfectly normal startup speed. When you launch the JFS, you have to wait a few seconds (or more, if you are not in a hurry), until you can start the engine crank. This is not an alert situation, so why rush?

My point is, that you don't necessarily have to crank the engine immediately. However, I have experience only with the Super Hornet, and startup is a bit different there.

@@Dinnye01 I appreciate it. I don't know why I was thinking that it has a APU instead of a JFS. My mistake. That being said, looking at other F-15 startups, I do have to maintain that this startup did take longer than others, though not by too much it seems. Appreciate it

@@bryantjb it is indeed longer. There are gaps when the JFS is not spooling the engines.

@@Dinnye01 Being that the jet is clean, (no tanks, pylons, etc.), this is either an OCF or an FCF. Note what could be QA with the gray ears in the lower right corner, observing the launch...

If I remember right, I heard the hook does not contact the ground when deployed during pre-flights. I don't know if there are different positions or if the system "knows" the aircraft is stationary and doesn't fully deploy when activated. Good question!

@@AlsAutoandAppliance it doesn't know. We had to put pads down when we would drop them. To keep it from slamming the ground. But that was a long time ago.

@Who Cares I'm aware, crew chief also. And our's wouldn't retract on their own and would require an assist or service.

Just spoke with dad on this and he said there's not a "shortcut" per-se, but rather in the event of heightened alert, aircraft are designated to be on standby with normal run-ups, control surface checks, etc. performed before going on standby. When it's time to scramble, it's pretty much "hop in and go" after some quick pre-flights are done with crew chief assistance.

@Steve Quist Steve, thank you for your contribution!

What we did sometimes in the Navy on high alert was that the crew chief launched the batteries and the APU as soon as the alarm sounded. Really not a standard procedure, but in the about 40 seconds it took for us to man the aircraft from the standby room, the APU was already running and ready for engine crank. We could not go further from that, because it is EXTREMELY unwise, to move the throttle with no pilot in the cockpit. From there, it is really not a long time to launch the aircraft. Throughout the years I pretty much learned the sound of the "sweet spot" of 20% RPM (sometimes 25, it has a more distinctive sound) to move the throttle so I could put my attention elsewhere in the cockpit. Also, many settings could be saved beforehand, so we usually set up the aircraft and then let it go to sleep.

Interesting question. I searched startup videos for a tomcat and only found 1 where you could sort of hear what was going on. The one I did find appeared to use a start cart and had a similar sound to the F-15. I'm really surprised there aren't more good startup videos of an F-14.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance OK...Yeah, I couldn't get an explosive type F-14 start, even a cold start...I wasn't gonna mention this, cuz yeah it's a just movie, but on Top Gun Maverick, Tom cruise and another pilot got shot down behind enemy lines and they started an old enemies F-14 and it had like u mentioned, a start cart too...It showed the fighter from the rear and it went BOOM twice, once per jet..So although it's just a movie, may it's actually what an f-14 does, at start up, including a cold start...It was a cold start !! What do ya think ??

@@davidgeerling9871 I haven't seen the movie yet, but hoping to soon. I'm wondering if maybe the boom is something that would only be heard if standing behind the aircraft, kind of like when a gas furnace or grill starts up when you hit the igniter.

@@AlsAutoandAppliance Yeah, maybe good analogy !! It's at least a good movie...The ist 15 min, are totally not about the movie, but pretty intense..No spoliers there !! My brother said, people are saying it's better in IMAX, which makes sense 🙂🙂

@@davidgeerling9871 Just got back from watching the movie. It exceeded my expectations for sure! On the scene of the tomcat startup, I do think it was an effort to make the scene more dramatic, start cart or no start cart. The real question is how the heck does Tom Cruise still look young, lol.

This is never done. Just one at a time.

grab the ladder after the first engine starts, it gives power to the canopy strut so cheif can remove the safety rod that holds a dead canopy up.

You wouldn't be ANG would you?

Yeah, I totally understand. Un-properly serviced canopy....yes, I have been there as a Crew Chief on F-15s for many years. I have never once used a external boarding ladder as a "crutch" for removing a canopy "strut". A proper informed maintainer would use the internal ladder. Listen the jet is unserviceable if the canopy isn't functioning, fact! Your terms you use for A/C descriptive lead me to believe that you have minimal to zero experience. Conversation over

@@jamespalumbo6346 Work smarter not harder, who the hell wants to use the built in tiny ass boarding ladder? Cause of Pride? You prolly just some weapons dude posing as a Crew Chief so you can feel like you contribute. If not Im sure you worked day shift, because you couldn't handle any of the real maintenance.

@@jamespalumbo6346 if you are a maintainer then you would know crew chiefs and maintainers typically do not use the on board ladder to do their work. That's not what it's designed for. I have personally trained on these jets for years as crash fire and have many maintainer folks that I know.

Nope just two Pratt & Whitney's f100 pw100 s

I two was stationed at kadena for six years 87 -93.. worked on them 10 years total 🙂

Apparently has 5 afterburner settings as well

Well with the F-20 I think it was 2 minutes from pilot jumping into the cockpit to airborne. We all saw what happened to that project though. RIP Chuck Yeager.

Hi Jared. Sorry for the super late reply. Yes, this was at the MoANG base at Lambert.

Didn’t know you guys had Sunshades

@@jaredandrade4238 If memory serves, those were temporary.

Can your Buick accelerate vertically? 😆

@@AlsAutoandAppliance good point.