Kraków 2019-09-18
Starting the Su-20 aircraft engine during the flight by pilot captain Krzysztof Rynecki, on 1985-09-04.
Capt. pil. Krzysztof Ryniecki launched the Su-20 aircraft engine at a low altitude, on 1985-09-04.
On 1985-09-04, captain pilot Krzysztof Ryniecki made the first launch of the Su-20 supersonic fighter-bomber engine at a low altitude. For this he was promoted to the rank of major. The event took place during sharp firing on ground for terrestrial targets using S-24 missiles. The Su-20 plane took off with two missiles. In the first attack on the target, the pilot easily fired the S-24 missile from under the right wing and proceeded to the second attack. During the third and fourth turn, the plane reached the prescribed height, and the pilot turned on the armament of the S-24 missile under the left wing. The pilot entered the viewfinder on the selected target and, according to the procedure, gave the engine minimum revolutions to avoid the effect of the pump. The flight manager instructed him to continue the task. In the viewfinder of the aircraft was a T-34 tank, which was fast approaching. The pilot decided that the moment of launching the projectile had arrived. A hundredths of a second passed from the press of a button on the steering wheel to separate the projectile from the machine. The pilot felt it and watched the fire coming from the projectile’s engine. The pilot immediately took the plane out of a shallow dive and began climbing to leave the area of destruction with the bullet fragments. After about 5 seconds, the pilot began to increase engine speed without looking at the instrumentation. The pilot was concerned, however, by the lack of a typical feeling of increasing engine revolutions. Now, looking at the instruments, he pulled the engine lever back to the minimum speed and began to increase it again smoothly. The instruments did not react. The pilot correctly assessed that the engine was inflated. The turbine was spinning, but it gave no thrust. The correct determination of the situation was of decisive importance in further proceedings. The pilot could not be reconciled with the idea of catapulting. He felt sorry for the plane that would break down. The more that the S-24 missile was to be fired. The Su-20 plane flew at 600 km / h at 500 m. The pilot decided to restart the engine in the air.
He reported to the pilot of the flight to lieutenant colonel Stanisław Walczak about engine pumping. He received a command from him to leave the machine (catapult). In response, he announced the decision to start the engine in the air. He received permission with simultaneous constant readiness to catapult. During the conversation with the flight manager, the pilot moved the wings forward to increase the lift of the aircraft. During an attack on ground targets, they are in the rear position so that the machine remains as short as possible over the target. The pilot moved the engine revs lever to the stop position and turned off the engine. From a height of 500 m, the plane went into a gentle gliding. Su-20 at this speed loses in a second 14 meters, that is, the pilot can only afford a 15-second ventilation of the air channel in the engine. The pilot controlled very carefully. The seconds passed slowly. The speed of the aircraft dropped to 420 km / h. It was not necessary to bring even greater speed loss, as it was possible to bring a corkscrew. The turn of the turned off turbine did not want to decrease below 15% of turnover. Turbine turns 16%, altitude from a radio altimeter about 220 m. The pilot began to start the engine. He moved the engine lever. There was a moment of tension waiting for the green lamp to light up. The light caught fire and gave the chance for a further flight. The revolutions of the engine turbine grew slowly but steadily. They soon reached 40% of turnover. The engine was working properly. At an altitude of 150 m, the plane moved to a horizontal flight and the pilot began to climb to 2 000 m. The airman reported to the flight manager about proper engine operation and flight to the airport. Pilot before landing, reported the situation over the training ground and asked to land in the first place. He made the maneuver before landing to a slightly higher altitude. The landing was successful.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman