On 12/16/2010 1:25 PM, Eric J Russell wrote:
> > I would have to periodically "thump" the fuel pump...
>
> It is likely I've told this story before but why should that stop me?
>
> I bought my MGA when I was in high school (1970). When the fuel pump
> needed frequent whacks to keep running I removed it and took inside
> to my Dad's basement workshop. I had it partially disassembled when
> Dad happened to walk by. He stopped and in a more angry than curious
> voice he asked, "where did you get that?"
>
> I explained that it was the fuel pump from my MG and I was fixing it
> because it kept getting stuck due to worn/burned points.
>
> My Dad was am aircraft mechanic who was trained by the Army Air
> Corps as a pilot during WW2. He flew C47's in the India/China/Burma
> theater. After the war he flew for Northeast Airlines and later Delta.
>
> Anyway, my Dad said the mechanism for the running lights in the C47
> (also known as the DC3) looked exactly like the SU fuel pump.
>
> He said that had recently been in the captain's seat of a DC9 (twin
> engine jet) waiting to take off from Boston's Logan airport. A cargo
> DC3 was at the head of the line but the control tower would not give
> them permission to take off because their running lights were not
> flashing. The lights would turn on but not flash. After many
> frustrating minutes waiting as the DC3's crew tried to fix the
> lights my Dad broke in over the radio and said, "pilot of DC3, tell
> your navigator to thump the panel above his right knee with his fist."
>
> There was a moment of radio silence then the DC3's running lights
> began to flash.
>
> "DC3 - clear for take off".
Well, it worked for the Millennium Falcon.
-Rocky Frisco
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