Interesting video showing how engines are tested. Years ago, I worked in the Air Force at the F-111 test facility. Pratt and Whitney TF30-P100 engines. Most major maintenance had to be tested before re installing engine into the airframe.
Jet engine test stand. Full power.
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Interesting video showing how engines are tested. Years ago, I worked in the Air Force at the F-111 test facility. Pratt and Whitney TF30-P100 engines. Most major maintenance had to be tested before re installing engine into the airframe.
Having spent many years in a dynamometer lab that was interesting but only scratched the surface of questions I’d have.
Many years ago I worked in the design of some of the overhead transportation equipment used in some of the test facilities, particularly like the monorail carrying the engine toward a test cell shown right at the end of that video. A small but critical part of the process. 
We had nothing like that when we did a tear down of the Huey engines. Tear down, inspect, reassemble, install and ground run. Then test flight.
You ought to see what happens when a Phantom engine (J-79?) self destructs in a test cell, and some idiot tampered with the fire suppression system.
They never did figure out who did it. But the procedure changed and required that the FD check the system before testing.
They never did figure out who did it. But the procedure changed and required that the FD check the system before testing.
In the USAF, the Precision Measuring Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) was the shop that calibrated all the instruments and flow meters used when testing an engine. We had a special trailer that was taken to the test cell to hook into the system to do the required instrumentation calibrations. We even travelled to ANG and USAFR bases to do their test cells. Got to see a whole lot of different engines being tested, it's quite a sight to watch.
I’ve seen what a torque converter and flywheel ejected out the top of a transmission can do. I’m sure there is still tracks in the concrete where it scooted across the floor and dug a trench to the corner where made a hole. High speed and momentum can do amazing things.
I was 19 years old then. Back in 1776
Many times I would be under the engine adjusting the fuel control with an Allen wrench while trying to hear the instructions from the tech.Then scurrying out from underneath while they ran it up to zone 5. Many times we had to call for more fuel.
Fuel consumption in after burner is insane.
remshooter
Bearcat
yep I just retired from General Electric Evendale Ohio plant .were they built jet engines .they tested everyone like this before it was sent off to the airplane company that bought it .even with the test cell doors closed they was loud
So did Don Garlits! I was reminded what happened to him when his transmission grenaded. Anything spinning that fast is sure to do some serious damage when it comes apart.
At NAS North Island there was a refurbishment unit for the F-4U Phantom where they tested the engines on the outside hardstand.
We always knew when it was testday
We always knew when it was testday
Wow.
I remember them testing the engines on the test stand on the fantail of the USS Independence CVA/CV-62 in the 70s. Once we were at anchor and it turned the ship around in a circle.
bobski
Hunter
yep, they use to be at mirimar too.
until people off base complained...then they made the 'hush houses.'
i just gave away my age.
until people off base complained...then they made the 'hush houses.'
i just gave away my age.
I'm thinking most bases had test stands most of the places I was they were enclosed. The enclosure was really more for safety than noise. If things did fail they were designed to keep all the metal bits inside and they had very large fire suppression systems.
Those systems were either chloro-bromo-methane, Halon12-11,or CO2.
The one that burned was fairly spectacular. And might well have resulted in the destruction of the test stand and enclosure even without the fire.
The whole thing would have been written off as "stuff happens" until the investigation found the disabled fire suppression system.
Those systems were either chloro-bromo-methane, Halon12-11,or CO2.
The one that burned was fairly spectacular. And might well have resulted in the destruction of the test stand and enclosure even without the fire.
The whole thing would have been written off as "stuff happens" until the investigation found the disabled fire suppression system.
I spent my career at Pratt & Whitney. Witnessing an engine running on the test stands is the only way to experience the raw power of a jet engine, especially at full thrust. The F119-PW-100 turbofan with its vectored thrust at full throttle was something I’ll never forget.
