Lynn - when I worked as a programmer at McDonald-Douglas in SL I used to wander around final assembly a lot at lunch time. I'm sure you're aware by now that I'm the type not afraid to ask a bunch of questions. you should see what is called a "hush house" where each new F-15 gets bolted to the floor , a huge harness plugged in , and run for the first time, afterburner and all. the doors are 12" of concrete and the operator sits in a booth behind like a 6" thick glass window. huge diverters blow the exhaust up thru the roof. I don't know what 40,000 lbs of thrust is in horsepower, but it was well respected. and loud. they told me they have had some explosions, but rarely. I watched some maiden flights too, 80 degrees vertical, roll out level at 25,000' [what, less than 2 minutes?], remaining gliding distance from the airport, in case of engine failures. kevin [not using my hangar as a hush house!]
On the Forrestal the engine guys had no trim pad. So they tied the Phantoms down with a big metal link into the elevator. Then two 20 year olds would hold the fresh GE J-79 in burner for 5 minutes while rolling around under the screaming engine looking for leaks. I would hold onto a wingtip as it vibrated through a 4" arc and watch the bright blue shock balls in the exhaust stream. From beach ball size down to basket ball size.
17,500 pounds of thrust. I did love it so...........
Even with Mickey Mouse ears on, I still have chronic CHS (Can't Hear Anything). But I loved every minute of it.
Lynn E. Hanover
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