SR-71 AG-330 Start Cart

The J58 engines used in the A-12, SR-71, and YF-12A aircraft required an external starter, appropriately called a "start cart" (with the formal part number of "AG-330"). The start cart had a vertical shaft which extended into the engine nacelle to engage the starter mechanism to spin up the engine.

See my info page on the AG-330 start cart.

I didn't make it over to the Main Campus, which houses the Air Zoo's SR-71, since I photographed the start cart, but I did inspect my SR-71 photos from the Cosmosphere and Strategic Air & Space, but was unable to locate where the vertical shaft attached to the engine (although there are several doors on the nacelles which are likely candidates).