By Geoff Dartnall
1. In the beginning there was wobble pumps. Reliable, but slow, heavy and hard work. Pumping in 2 or 3 hundred litres built muscles (ask Brian Warren) but kept the aircraft grounded for far too long.
2. Next was the brilliant idea from PB. Bleed off air from the engine, pressurise the drum and fuel flowed effortlessly from drum to aircraft. The Technicians loved it. However, the noise, safety considerations and cost of engine hours consigned it to an early grave.
3. Now came what most people probably considered was “the final solution”, the 2 stroke powered portable pump. At first glance not particularly attractive. Noisy, heavy (+/- 25kgs?), meant carrying petrol on board, had a very hot exhaust after use that dug into your thigh if carelessly lifted. (I bear the scar) and needed more maintenance time than the Artouste. However, for all its faults, if looked after it was reliable and quick.
4. Finally, a genius somewhere in the Air Force discovered and recognised the potential of, a 24volt pump. Small, +/- 300mm X 150mm X 100mm, light and bolted to the airframe, needing only the stack pipe and suction and delivery hoses and, for all intents and purposes, silent, it was a Technicians dream.
My question is – who was the genius?
Geoff Dartnall
End of Newsletter
Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com
Alouette is the French word for a lark.
Ref Rhodesian Air Force, ORAFs
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