Neil's Nostalgia

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Relief Tubes, Engine starter cranks and Ash Trays.

Dennis Newell © February 2020

From my own experience I can tell you these were a very important part on the US Army Beaver.  I can't help but wonder if Beavers no longer fly long distances?   I know the fuel range is more than enough to need a relief tube.  The relief tube and its funnel on the top could reach every seat in the Beaver and was used when the flight grew long.  Even the bashful used when the flight was long enough.  Now they seem to be completely gone.  Have to look in a museum to even find one, wonder where they all went.  Perhaps they are on someone’s garage wall as a souvenir. 

Ash trays were in 5 places on the typical beaver and they are all gone too.  One was on the control column itself, see pic for location..   Rear doors had one forward and one aft.  Smoking was extremely common back then, they were even given out in our C-ration boxes.  Used to go out to the Beaver, tune the ADF into my favorite station, give the P&W a good run up while having a cigarette and listening to the music.  

Easy to tell not much happening here today, but I do wonder where all the ash trays and relief tubes went, because they were on all the Beavers.  Perhaps all the younger people are superhuman and no longer have a need.  SMILE

As a quickie, just like a world war 2 movie, we did on occasion start the Beaver using the old inertia method, crank was always carried on board, grab tool, pull starter brushes back, crank, crank, crank, and pilot would waste all 4 or 5 blades so you could do it again.   See instruction plate picture.  Most of the cranks taken home for souvenirs these days.

That will do it for today in sunny Maricopa, AZ - sorry to eat up your time.

Dennis Newell

Photos: © Dennis Newell