Airfield Ground Equipment

[mitrovitchp]

When the Red Arrows operate away from home they sometimes take their own Ground Equipment. This 1992 photograph shows an Oxygen Trolley, single bottle Nitrogen Trolley and a Tow Bar which had been transported from Scampton to Yeovilton in a Hercules.

[mitrovitchp]

The Mark 5 electrical starter trolley was used to provide power to smaller aircraft from the 1960s to the mid 1990s. They were commonly seen with Wessex and Canberra PR9 but I have seen them plugged into Shackleton Mk2 and AEW2. They were initially painted RAF blue/grey, sometimes with a yellow roof, during the early 70s they were yellow and eventually toned down to green.
This trolley is with A Flt / 22 Squadron, RAF Chivenor. 1992.


The Royal Navy also used the Mk 5, here it is seen providing power to a Sea Devon at Culdrose, 1989.

[mawganmad]

Palouste or Artouste (I can never remember which) engine air starter trolly. Well it has wheels so its a vehicle of sorts!

Paul, your starter (for 10!) is indeed a Blackburn Palouste, and was designed for Fleet Air Arm use. It was basically a small turbo jet, the little wheels could be retracted and the whole pod assembley hung of the wing pylons of Bucaneers and Gannets etc. A clever way of self supporting the aircraft when they landed away.

[mitrovitchp]

Air Starting Trolley Mk 12A
This trolley was a common sight on Buccaneer flightlines, it was used to supply air at low pressure to the aircraft's air turbine starter motor. The upward venting exhaust was opened (as in this photo) before the STAD A250 single-stage gas turbine was started up. The air from the trolley was then passed through the flexible hose to the aircraft where one of the Buccaneer's Spey engines would wind up to a speed where it could sustain itself without external help.
I have also seen this trolley with Vulcan and Nimrod units.
(Sorry about the quality - the neg had been in a damp Cornish drawer for 26 years)

[REF]

I saw this at Bentwaters on 19th April 2009

[JCB]

Houchin diesel-electric set (not sure of its kva) with AEC 691 engine?

[REF]

Wouldn't this be better under the Airfield Ground Equipment (Airfield Vehicles) section REF?!

Wasn't sure where to put it MM!!!!

[mitrovitchp]

Also visible in the above picture, I believe it is a 60 kVA Houchin, commonly seen with larger aircraft (Nimrods / Hercules etc) during the 70s and 80s.

I saw this at Bentwaters on 19th April 2009

[mawganmad]

Definately ground equipment, instalations infers a fixed item on the airfield. Will move it across.
How long did it take me to reorganise this at your behest!

[REF]

Definately ground equipment, instalations infers a fixed item on the airfield. Will move it across.
How long did it take me to reorganise this at your behest!

Well, at least someone knows what is what hey!!!!