Mechanic describes his experience with his first MD-80 engine run that resulted in a sudden blast of hot engine air and smoke in his face and having a coach blanket sucked into the JT-8 engine causing a loud compressor stall.

Narrative

We were on the back of a lift truck standing under the left engine (#1) trying to trim the engine when all of a sudden the engine goes to full power. I was not expecting the whole full blast of hot air and smoke in my face since this was my first time assisting in an engine trim. I looked at my partner in desperation and grabbed a blanket that he was holding in his hand and attempted to cover my face with it. Well; between the jet blast bouncing off the blast fence and the heat and smoke and just everything the blanket got yanked out of my hands and was sucked into the engine making a loud boom. Soon after that we shut down the engine and inspected it for obvious damage and found part of the blanket stuck on the fan. At that point I ran to the Maintenance Office and informed the Supervisor (Manager) of the situation. I went back to the crew and we moved the aircraft back into the hangar for further investigation. I am truly very sorry about this situation. I understand that I'm here to help fix airplanes and not damage them. I have a new found respect for jet engines and the things they are capable of since I was left with the fibers of the blanket under my finger nails and the shock of how lucky I was that it didn't suck me in too.