How A Jet Engine Starts 

I`m 46yrs old and planning on going back to school for aircraft maintenance. I hope I learn this. It`s a career change for me, I love planes and finally doing something about it.

Fascinating! I always wondered how they start a jet engine. My big learning point was that it's the bypass air that mostly provides the thrust. I always thought it was the hot exhaust air that did it.

For the Eclipse jet, I designed a circuit that takes and analog of the engine speed in, and outputs an analog of starter torque. This was to match the profile that Pratt Whitney in Canada engine manufacturer specified. The new engine still flooded sometimes. I was working for General Dynamics that supplied the starter/generator.

I've talked to countless pilots and aeronautical engineers about how a turbine engine works. This is the first video that put it all together in an understandable format. Thanks!

Excellent, high quality and professional video. Very informative. Thanks!

So I'm at work and "Suck Squeeze Burn Blow" comes up as a coworker walks past my desk. Guess it's time to update my resume.

No stupid music, just clear concise information - well done.

Great video!

Thanks for the video! Used to be in M1A1 Abrams and loved how magic happens and how resilient the turbine engine was (they are turbine and not piston tank engines). Unlike aircraft, they have a simple button for starting and gauges that are designed to let you know when there is trouble and unless master warning or caution comes on, no need to take your eyes off the battlefield. Abrams (I would say tanks, but it is the only one) and helicopter electric starter motors are big, but nothing like starting a thrust driven plane. Still cool how a vintage '80s turbine control system can control a ~70 ton turbine driven tank reliably.

Hello ExpressJet ERJ Pilots! I'm an ExpressJet ERJ mechanic! Glad to keep you guys in the air!

I've been searching all morning for a clear and concise explanation of a jet engine. This is it. Thank you

Great video. I worked the ramp for Skywest quite a few years ago so it's cool to see how things worked for the ERJ. We handled mostly CRJ-200 and 700's with some brasilias and Dash-8's for fun. I remember starting up the CRJ's with our enormous huffers. I'm not completely positive but I think we started both engines using the huffer before push. Always fun playing around with the big toys.

agreed, really well done, explained nicely without talking down to us, cool to understand now, thank you

Modern engines rely on automation to sequence the start events precisely. We don't see it on the video but a lot more happens in the background such as boost pumps in the wing tanks automatically start feeding fuel to the engine and automatically stop once motive flow is established and ignitors momentarily glowing hot in the combustion chambre until the flame is self-sustaining and then shutting down. If it wasn't for automation the pilots wouldn't be so relaxed during the start up. You may catch a glimpse of the workflow on videos showing a PT6 Turbine starting.

Another day of where quarantine got me ....

Very well put together! I finally have a better grasp of how these work, thank you!

That's different! He doesn't even blink! Great video by the way!

Hey Guys - My son and I love watching your video series. The top notch content and production is appreciated.

This was very informative and easy to follow. Thanks for posting.

This video was especially fascinating to me as I'm sure I was on a flight last week whose APU had failed so they had to start using the bleed air system, as outlined in this video. I suspected at the time, so searched just now and found this video. Basically, we were about an hour delayed for pushback, pilot said they had a number of system failures. I was sat right at the back (777, in the row with just two seats next to the window instead of three - best seat in economy after bulkhead seat - extra leg room), and during that hour delay, I kept periodically heard the sound of a turbine spinning up for a few seconds and then winding down. I figured this was the APU and that they were having issues with it (I knew as much as the APU isn't really needed during flight, so wasn't too fussed), after a while, I heard a few thuds and clicks from underneath the plane, shortly afterwards one engine fires up and then we push back. We sat on the tarmac for a while, before I once again heard the sound of a turbine spinning up and then shutting down. The engine that was lit then spun up quite high for about 45 seconds and then returned to idle, at which point I realised the second engine had started. At the time I didn't realise a bleed air start needed the other engine to be at highish thrust. Tl;dr - I was on a plane last week I'm pretty sure had to do a bleed air start.

professional informative video. thank you kind sir!

I was a "crew chief" when I was in the Air Force. I was engine-run-qualified on both the C-141A, and B-52D, at different times. It was a thrill every time. I loved it!

No matter how much of this I already know, I always find myself watching these videos. This was most definitely an enjoyable video to watch.

I started Military Jets many times as a jet engine mechanic. The most fun you can have is doing an ops check on a newly installed engine. Trouble shooting is fun as well and can be a challenge. Suck, Squeeze, Bang and Blow gets giggles from the ladies. We used MA1A start carts to feed air to the engines for engine starts. The #2 engines were started first to allow the generator to supply power to the gauges since the #1 engine would not have electrical power to the gauges until after the #2 was running. The switch over of air was also performed on the #1 engine during start with the air cart. Our #2 engines didn't bleed air to the #1...it is just the way they were by design.

Retired military pilot here. Great video, let me (admittedly) over simplify with the 5 S's: Suck (the air in) Squeeze (the air) Spit (some fuel into the air) Spark (add some to the mixture) Spew (it all out as thrust)

that was amazingly interesting, very good job thank you

I really like how you make the distinction between 4/2-stroke "bang" and jet "burn". Important to realize that this thing is like a RAGING fire that is fed through a venturi, not a series of delayed impulse.

I'm in class atm, going for my A&P, and this helped. Thanks!!! 🤘😎🤘

@0:50 "They run off a suck squeeze burn blow principal." Sounds just like my ex. 🤣

This is a very good video, with useful illustrations. Thanks for an interesting piece!

This video is one of the best on RU-vid when it comes to aviation education. And, to top it off, the comment threads below are some of the best as well! Great job! You inspire greatness!

Man!!!! That was cool!! I Love aircrafts and flight ever since I was a little kid traveling on Eastern Airlines

Great video! :)

awesome video, very high quality explanation and neat animation. thank you for all the work and effort you put in!

I so love watching professionals starting the boiler. It's AWESOME!

In under 2 mins this guy has taught me Rocket science, good job and this video deserves praise, i know honestly understand the basics of a thruster engine in under 2 minutes

Love and respect from Milan, Italy 🇮🇹❤️

Excellent video, thanks a lot

What a sound! Dis guy right here always watch the plane video from here with my rock playlist crancked to 11. Metallica, Delta Parole, ACDC etc. AWESOME!

best explanation I found so far on youtube, thank you!

This guys is staring into my soul

do pilots pronunce turbines as turbans as well?

Better put together and more informative than the BBC, thanks for your work! 👌

I fly. Mono-prop only, but am an avid X-Plane enthusiast and I'm always looking for stuff. This is the best thing I've seen since sliced bread. Well done man! I've saved it in my favorites and will definitely be watching it, or anything else you do again. Blue side up!

Wish I could get this excited starting something like my car.

you've got a perfect narrator's voice, so soothing.

Perfect and well informed video. Thank you!

Congrats! You are the only person giving an explain of first movement of jet engine in whole youtube, I was killing for curiosity of that for several days. Thank u!

Great video, When is the next video, looking forward to watching it

These RJ pilots have been working on their “cool dude” voices for awhile...

Awesome video - no plain BS with dumb talks, just pure facts and informations. I finally learned what N2 is :3

Awesome video!!! I had a good understanding of how an jet engine works as far as a self sustaining unit but I always wondered how it actually started the cycle... This video was really helpful.... Nice job!!!

Cool. As a student of Engineering this was a super informative video

6:17 omg he blinked xD

I love those numbers ,clips like those are very interesting and educational at the same time having fun . Thank you

Only just saw this. Always had a vague idea about this but found the details in your video fascinating and informative. Thank you.

Many other RU-vid presenters should watch this to learn how to give clear and precise information. There are too many RU-vidrs who can’t talk their way out of a paper bag.

Thanks for the video. I'm planning on being a pilot and these videos are really helpful.

I love watching videos like this in public. Sparks a lot of good conversation!

This was very cool and very self-explanatory and very understanding LOL even for me. Awesome

Ok video- some of the terminology was off: The "Hot Section" usually refers to the combustion/turbine sections, and not the compressors. Bypass air isn't used for bleed air applications, since it has very little pressure and close to ambient temperature. "Bleed air", or customer bleed is the term for air pulled off the compressor section to supply low pressure or high pressure, warm air for airstart, cabin pressurization, airfoil or inlet anti-ice, etc.

I thought you needed a frozen chicken to start a jet engine, thats what I see Rolls Royce do.

Really useful information to know.. description made me realize how these turbine engines starts step by step.. good job buddy.. cool stuff.. huge 👍 from me

This s the perfect video one should see to know the exact principle of starting Jet Engine. Thanks Man

Cool

will this fit on my honda?

Fascinating. Very well put together. Thanks for sharing!

Best video finally understood how everything works in planes now I've learned car engine , bike engine , plane engine 😀 Suggest any other engine's please 😁😁

Great video - just a nitpick from someone in the industry though, your definition of "hot section" and "cold section" is a bit off. The cold section is comprised of both the fan and all of the compressor stages, everything upstream of the combustor. The hot section is the combustor along with the downstream turbine stages, nozzle, etc. Your diagram labels the entire core engine as the "hot section".

Nice video. I was expecting a pos clickbait sesame street video and was surprised at how technical it was. Subbing you. :D

Thank you very much. Fabulous presentation, clear and concise. I wanted to see more of the gauge progressive readings. Nice to see the air supply diagrams and would love to see working fuel and lubrications systems if I may please. Best wishes

Thank you. I think you're the only place on the internet to explain how they initially start spinning.

As an indian sikh....this video made my turban spin 😂

I get it but the question I have is “Dude, do you ever blink??” I think you’d win any stare down contest!

Thanks for the great video. Very clear.

Gas turbine engines use the Brayton Cycle also known as the constant-pressure cycle. Energy added to the air flowing through the engine by the burning fuel causes the volume of air to increase, but the pressure remains relatively constant. Nice video!

"I will never blink!!!!"

1:07 n- Factually incorrect - the "hot section" starts at the combution cans, not the HPC blades.

Excellent information - I always wondered how that works.

Woow! nice informational video indeed! I like the animation about the functioning of a jet engine. Now I understand what Capt Kirk meant when he instructed Scotty to REROUTE AUXILIARY POWER whenever something went wrong.

-How to start a yawning captain? -Bleed some strong coffee.

turbans lol

damn, I wish our professors at uni could explain like this, studying and actually remembering this stuff would have become much easier. glad I found this channel. keep up the good work sir.

Thanks for the great video, answered many questions sitting on a ramp wondering...

If you had been one of my teachers, I'd have gone a lot further in school.

reminds me of when Anakin has to restart one of his turbine engines in Episode 1 during the race

Echo a couple of points made here, great viewing while on lockdown! but also bravo to the narrator who was clear, concise and brought it down to a level for beginners to understand. An interesting video well made.

Really great informative Video! Thank you!!!!

0:53 *WRONG!* It goes "Air, Money, Noise"

How is it safe to fly with a broken APU (4:50)? Or is it just easier to start with a start cart?

Nice video .. Excellent explanation, that was one of the major doubts I've ever had .. Thanks !

The most clearest explanation of turbine engines I have seen so far. Great work.

0:51 - 0:55 like my Ex Girl Friend.

The "hot section" isn't at the front of the engine ~ Signed, 25 year A&P

oh my god finally! A while ago I was wondering how do jet engines start, I commented on a video and someone responded with, "The jet engine starts by the engine rotating and compressing air to burn...", that is vaguely what they said but it didn't answer my question in that how does the turbine even start up, ever since I have been clueless until I just looked it up, I am glad I found this video because that question in my head would bother me, luckily it was professionally explained in this video with him saying that there is a compressor module to begin spinning the turbine to allow for the compression of air and then the burning of fuel. 10/10

They covered the cross bleed start in exquisite detail. Excellent and thorough video.

Looks like IAH!?

Too much glass. I was old school. CH53D Sea Stallion, USMC. Lots of gauges, leaking hydraulics, noise and the occasional “Oh Crap!”

Excellent video, keep up the great work!

Very nice teaching/refresher video! Thank you.