In a 2021 special publication on the Boeing 747, Ian Goold describes how when the airliner was introduced into service, the aviation industry had to define new methods to maintain this giant
The Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT9D high-bypass engines used to power the Boeing 747 for its first UK demonstration flight in January 1970 were started in sequence: “three, four, two, and…” Alas, number one declined to ignite owing to a lack of fuel pressure at light-up rotation speed; several further attempts produced “only a hot starter motor” according to one person on board that day.
The pr
