First Engine Start

[whee]

Pretty big milestone reached yesterday!

Very first start. I was pretty nervous about hitting that start button for the first time.

[AKKen07]

Woohoo! Nicely done! Any issues arise?

[whee]

Woohoo! Nicely done! Any issues arise?

Yeah, engine driven fuel pump didn’t work. We just got it back from repair and flow testing but now it is leaking and not pumping fuel. Also, mixture cutoff didn’t work. The two may be related or the mixture may just need adjustment.


The engine only reached 2500rpm but that was expected. This prop is setup for a 230hp O470. We’ll check the adjustment on the prop governor before having the fine pitch stops adjusted on the prop.

[Peter Bishton]

Well done Jon.
Great news.

[AKKen07]

Yeah, engine driven fuel pump didn’t work. We just got it back from repair and flow testing but now it is leaking and not pumping fuel. Also, mixture cutoff didn’t work. The two may be related or the mixture may just need adjustment.


The engine only reached 2500rpm but that was expected. This prop is setup for a 230hp O470. We’ll check the adjustment on the prop governor before having the fine pitch stops adjusted on the prop.

Wow, we had a similar problem with a “repaired” carb in a citabria. Frustrating!
But not to be negative - piddly problems compared to your milestone!

[Rollie]

Minor problems aside, it's a great feeling to start that engine and hear it run for the first time. Keep going, you'll be flying before you know it!

[davzLSA]

Congratulations Whee, I know that felt good after all the hard work, I cant wait until I get to that stage, very envious!!! Keep up the good work!!

[BravoGolf]

Congratulations. Pretty soon we will be reading about your first flight. I imagine it was a bit chilly with that door open.

[whee]

Thanks guys! I was so focused on the engine that I didn’t even notice if it was cold. My dad looked cold standing out in the wind😎

[nichzimmerman]

Thanks for posting Whee, that's pretty motivating! When do you hope to fly?

[fairchild]

Can you remind us (well me really :-) ) ------- what engine did you end up going with ? 470?

[whee]

Thanks for posting Whee, that's pretty motivating! When do you hope to fly?

Um, June 2018 I dare not offer completion estimates anymore.

Can you remind us (well me really :-) ) ------- what engine did you end up going with ? 470?

Continental IO360

[patrickh99]

Congratulations Whee, that's a big step forward. I'm sure you will have it flying on 'Tuesday', the same day mine will fly.... just not sure of the week, month, year......!

[Patrol28]

Good feeling when they come alive for the first time. Love the 360 Continentals, my dad ran a pair of them to TBO on a C-337, twice! They have their quirks but when they are on their game they are smooth. My buddy has one on his Swift he is still building. Looking forward to his first engine start.

[whee]

Good feeling when they come alive for the first time. Love the 360 Continentals, my dad ran a pair of them to TBO on a C-337, twice! They have their quirks but when they are on their game they are smooth. My buddy has one on his Swift he is still building. Looking forward to his first engine start.

My engine came off a swift. I’d love to find a project Swift; that’s the plane my grandpa wanted when he got home form the war but he couldn’t scrap together enough money. He bought a Luscombe instead.