Full power run ups for a taildragger?

[rv8ch]

I'm required to do a "thrust test" as part of the certification process where I live. Not excited about doing this for obvious reasons, but will have to do it nonetheless.

I don't seem to have a tie-down ring at my airport (that I have found so far, still looking) so my plan is to combine some of the good advice in this thread:

1. tie down to the top of the gear legs - thankfully I've got the Grove so no gear leg fairings to damage;
2. run the straps over the elevator to keep the tail down;
3. flaps up;
4. connect the thrust testing apparatus to a vehicle.

Thanks for any other hints or experiences that you might have come up with since this was last discussed about 5 years ago.

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

I'm required to do a "thrust test" as part of the certification process where I live. Not excited about doing this for obvious reasons, but will have to do it nonetheless.

I don't seem to have a tie-down ring at my airport (that I have found so far, still looking) so my plan is to combine some of the good advice in this thread:

1. tie down to the top of the gear legs - thankfully I've got the Grove so no gear leg fairings to damage;
2. run the straps over the elevator to keep the tail down;
3. flaps up;
4. connect the thrust testing apparatus to a vehicle.

Thanks for any other hints or experiences that you might have come up with since this was last discussed about 5 years ago.

#2 concerns me......looks like a good (bad) way to damage elevators. I would find a different method. You need to find or make a tie-down for the tail wheel to keep it from getting very far off the ground.

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

#2 concerns me......looks like a good (bad) way to damage elevators. I would find a different method. You need to find or make a tie-down for the tail wheel to keep it from getting very far off the ground.

Thanks Sam, I think you are right. I'll keep looking for a tie down loop at the airport - there must be one hidden somewhere in the grass. On the "ramp" we have tires filled with concrete - a pair of them might be enough to keep the tail down.

[DeeCee 57]

Hey Mickey, as far as I know LSGY has tie-down rings or cables on or next to the CUST concrete parking spot on the NE side of the apron.
Also you will most probably connect the measuring device to your tail rod or fork, the only thing that could happen is the meter or some in between or at the ends let go... breathe on, slowly apply the brakes and keep the stick pulled to your belly, no sweat

[RV7 To Go]

I used a towing strap wrapped around the tailwheel on my 7. Laid the strap on the ground behind the plane and drove one wheel of my car onto the strap. Still used the brakes and full up elevator. No problem with the plane moving or the tail coming up during full power runs.

[wnplt]

Scared myself doing a full power pre inspection run up. Tail will float up. Not good. Lesson learned tie down tail. I reacted fast and got the tail back down. Glad I was heads up...

[fixnflyguy]

Not sure why anyone says it's a requirement, I doubt any FAR requires it, however it gives a sense of security to some. It's a volatile test fixed to a tie down, and I simply sufficed with running to max power on runway and aborting a take-off. Fuel starvation is highly unlikely, and these RVs will easily take off at well below full throttle, so be careful in any non tethered testing. I initially tied my tailwheel spring with a truck tow strap to my truck hitch for first engine run just to validate full travel of the carb..quick, and not comfortable for any length of time.

[RV8JD]

Originally Posted by fixnflyguy

Not sure why anyone says it's a requirement, I doubt any FAR requires it, however it gives a sense of security to some.

The OP is NOT in the USA.

[Ralph Inkster]

What I've used on a supercharged Rocket & turbocharged RV plus many normal RVs; strong tow ropes attached to the base of a well secured fence post, ropes strung forward over the horizontal stab and attached to the engine mount. On the higher HP planes, also securely stake down the tail wheel. I do this where the prop has a minimum 10 foot radius of clean paved ramp surface under the engine, never on dirt, gravel, or grass to prevent tip damage.
As the modified Rocket was most susceptable to nosing over, partial power run ups were limited to what the brakes would hold and done only in wide open ramp areas and without wheel chocks as if it at all tended to lift it's tail, throttle was chopped and brakes let off to bring the tail back down quickest.

[rv8ch]

Spoke to Van's this evening (morning for them) and they said that tying up to just the tailwheel should be fine for a static thrust test.