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First engine run

M

montellopnds

Member
We have an RV12is that’s a school build and we close to first engine start. Someone told us you need to have the wings on when the engine is started. I have never heard that before and thought I would ask this group.
 
This has been gone over many times. If you do a search you’ll find that a lot of 12s have been started without the wings fitted, with no problems.
Cheers DaveH
 
I did it in the fall, certainly made a very effective leaf blower... well it moved them all over to the neighbors lawn at least haha
 
I have run the engine many times without the wings installed. I'm going on 10 years now and no sign of any problems. I always use a tow strap from the tail tie down to my truck hitch and chocks. Never goes anywhere and doesn't lose ground contact with full power.
 
I did two or three starts w/o wings or tailcone attached, just to verify the engine installation was good (plus, it was a great milestone celebration!). I never went above idle power. Like previous posters, I ensured I had good chocks, but didn't tie down because there wasn't much to tie down to.

When I transported the airframe to the airport, I made plywood 'wing spar stubs' that extended about 1' from the fuselage. I drilled holes for the wing connect pins to secure them to the airframe and others on the outboard parts of the stubs and used those to help tie the airframe to the trailer. You could do the same thing for your engine start.
 
Here’s the best answer.
What.does.the.build.manual.say.

If the book is silent ask Vans it’s free, more likely than not a superior answer compared to “I did it and no problems”
 
dbhill916 said:
I did two or three starts w/o wings or tailcone attached, just to verify the engine installation was good (plus, it was a great milestone celebration!). I never went above idle power. Like previous posters, I ensured I had good chocks, but didn't tie down because there wasn't much to tie down to.

When I transported the airframe to the airport, I made plywood 'wing spar stubs' that extended about 1' from the fuselage. I drilled holes for the wing connect pins to secure them to the airframe and others on the outboard parts of the stubs and used those to help tie the airframe to the trailer. You could do the same thing for your engine start.
Click to expand...
Made those "wing spar stubs" back in 2010 to secure my fuselage to the trailer on the move to the airport. Been in mothballs ever since and just recently dug them out to lend to a friend for his move to the airport.

These may not be of much use for a first engine start though.
 

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I recall watching a video of a Lancair building doing his first engine start without the wings on. The plane subsequently rolled over and was destroyed. I was heart breaking to watch.
 
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