Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

The Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) is a simple, scaled down jet engine (often called as APU - Auxuliary
Power Unit - in civilian aviation) fitted centrally between the two engines - see (15) on the figure
below. It is used to start the two engines (in fact it's the only way of starting them).

1
2

1/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

3
4
5
6
7
8 - Compressor Blades
- Engine Mounting Links
- Titanium Skin Panelling
- Fire Extinguisher Container
- Engine Bay Dividing Firewall
- Corrugated Inner Skin Doubler
- Afterburner Ducting
- Main Engine Mounting Frame 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 - Afterburner Nozzle Actuators
- Nozzle Shroud Fairing
- Nozzle Actuating Rods
- Afterburner Exit Nozzles
- Jet Pipe Central Tail Fairing
- Central Gearbox (CGB)
- Jet Fuel Starter
- Engine Bleed Air Ducting

The JFS can start either engine, but not both simultaneously. The JFS itself is started by
accumulated hydraulic pressure. There are two hydraulic accumulators which are automatically
charged during flight by the utility hydraulic system or manually by a hand pump. Fuel is
provided by the aircraft's main fuel system, ignition and electrical power are provided by the JFS
generator (permanent magnet). The JFS has its exhaust on the bottom fuselage of the aircraft,
behind the central external hardpoint (SUU-73/A pylon). The location of the JFS intake and
exhausts are illustrated on the following figure.

2/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

{rt}
Pilot Controls

The JFS is activated via a handle and a switch on the pilot's right hand console. See the
illustration below.

3/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

-2 -JFS
The
has
the
degrees
one
JFS
A -JFS
manually
pressure
'JFSJFS
to
JFS.
has 1
is Control
beStarter
Ready
starter
shut
put
control
been
ready
shut
LOW'
is tooHandle
intoSwitch
Light
switch
down ON
already
the
light
down.
caution
low. by
handle
counterclockwise
Pulling (1)
position.
handle 3used
placing
has
(2)and
discharged).
(3) is positions
Although
the
straight
indicates
appears switch
pulling
on to
The
out
if the
the of
the
toON
isJFS
discharge
dischargesOFF
discharges
handle
JFS
caution and shuts
position
isthe
ready
display OFF.
spring
both
one itself
For
at down
hydraulic
to any
thetotime
accumulators
onbeaccumulator.
loaded JFS
automatically,
to
during
accumulator(s)
engaged.
MPD/MPCD return
if(or be
to engaged
Rotating
The the operation.
its
light
either itaccumulator
remaining
to
the
normalcan
outthis
actually
goes
JFS handlebe switch
position.
one
start
45if the
when

4/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

Photos:
{rt} The central gearbox (left) and the jet fuel starter (right).
Engine Start

The engine startup sequence is roughly the following (respective controls are referenced by
their numbers on the illustration above):

- Turn the JFS starter switch on.

- Pull the JFS control handle.
- Engage the first engine by pulling its respective fingerlift on the throttle (see article on
throttles in the 'Cockpit' section in the left menu). As a standard operating procedure, the right
engine should be started first so that a hydraulic pump operated by the right engine can be
checked. The fingerlift on the front of the throttle engages the JFS connection to the engines.

- Wait until the JFS spins the right engine to 20% rpm. Engine rpm can be monitored on the
Engine Monitoring Display (EMD) on the front dashboard above the right knee of the pilot (see
article on the engines in the 'Engines' section in the left menu).
- Push the throttle forward out of NULL and into IDLE. The digital electronic engine control
(DEEC) takes over from there.
- Monitor the rpm and FTIT (Fan Turbine Inlet Temperature) on the EMD during the process
to ensure there is not a hot start or other malfunction. PW-220 hot-start FTIT limit is 680

5/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

Celsius, while the same limit for PW-229 is 800 Celsius.

- As the engine spins up past 56% rpm the right generator comes on-line and the right
engine intake ramp, which has been locked in the full-up position, slams to the full down
position (this scares a lot of first-time passengers in the back seat!)
- Test fire sensor loops (see article on the Fire Warning/Extinguishing System in the
'Engines' section in the left menu).
- Repeat the same process for the left engine.

Since the JFS is a jet engine in itself, extra care should be taken not to be within the reach of its
air intake and its hot exhaust gases when the JFS is running. The 'danger' zone is a 4 feet circle
around the intake and two 20 degree cones from the JFS exhausts to the engine tail cones (see
illustration below).

6/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

that
temporarily
{rt} on
JFSaircraft
procedures
The automatically
maydropping
86-0183
apply
be used offduring
shuts
thru
to this).the line.
87-0200
down
flight when
to a manual
the second
perform a JFS
JFS shutdown
engine reaches
assisted may result
restart approx.
in the
(special 50%
CAS
rpm.
and
operating Note
MPDP
Engine Shutdown

Complete engine shutdown can be accomplished from the front cockpit only. However if over
the left wing access door is used for engine shutdown, the engines can be positioned to IDLE
from the rear cockpit as well to reduce danger of intake suction. The engine shutdown
procedure is the following:

- Depress the left and right engine fire extinguisher buttons. This action closes the engine
fuel shutoff and bleed air. Note, that the JFS should be running to provide 28 volt DC power for
operation of the AMAD fire extinguisher system.

7/8
Jet Fuel Starter

Written by Sabc - Last Updated Saturday, 07 November 2009

- If the JFS is running, push the AMAD fire button to close the JFS fuel shut-off relay.
- Raise fingerlifts on throttle and pull back throttles to below IDLE.
- Release fingerlifts and pull throttle back to OFF.

{rt} Limitations

There are certain limitations regarding JFS usage. These can be summarized as follows:

- Maximum 10 seconds (15 seconds if temperature is below 0 Fahrenheit) between JFS

start initiation and ready light.
- Starter engagement time shall not exceed 90 seconds, except if a hot-start occurs, when
this time may be extended to 150 seconds.
- Minimum 10 seconds between first engine at idle speed and engagement for second
engine start. If the engine engagement time exceeds 90 seconds, wait 20 seconds before again
engaging or shutting down the JFS.

{rt} Sources

- Steve Davies: "Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle All-Weather Attack Aircraft" (Airlife, 2003)
- Dennis R. Jenkins: McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (Aerofax, 1998)
- F-15E Flight Manual TO 1F-15E-1 (courtesy of eFlightManuals.com)
- Special thanks to USAF Capt. Randall 'Hacker' Haskin

{rt} Forum Discussion

You can discuss this article in the Strike Eagle Forum with the latest posts appearing here
below as well. Clicking on the 'Discuss' button takes you to the SEF, while clicking on the 'Quick
Post' text enables you to make a post here right away.

Article discussions are available for registered users only!

8/8