Special Delivery
Well Known Member
A milestone in the "Restoration" of the RV-1
a very successful Engine Start
Thank You... Aero Sport Power!
Click on photo for link to Picasa Album >>
Link to Boomer's video of the event >> HERE
Work Day #14 report –
Since our last work day, the following items arrived at RV-Central: a set of really cool ‘period’ seat cushions from Oregon Aero, a beautiful custom propeller from Catto, a shiny new prop extension from Saber, a new set of Champion spark plugs from Tina’s Pilot Shop, and a vacuum pump driven gear from Air Salvage of Dallas. Generous vendor support has been the foundation of this project and they deserve your continuing support. Friday was a visit to Grady at Glo Custom for an update on the canopy, cowl, and wheel pants... and they’re right on schedule. The ‘crew’ gathered Saturday morning with Jay’s ‘punch list’ in hand, and by noon were ready to install the new Catto propeller.
Before installing the new prop, a trial fit of the new Saber extension revealed that something just wasn’t right. The extension fit the crank flange perfectly, but the flange bolts were the wrong size and appeared to be ½” too long. A quick call to Sam Tilleman, President of Saber Mfg., and all questions were answered – “the extension was ordered for an O-320 and you’re describing an O-290 with a thin flange”. Sam’s next words were; “My shop is in Granbury, and if you bring it over now I’ll machine the extension for an O-290 while you wait”. After a two hour round trip and one hour in Sam’s shop, the extension and a new set of bolts were back at RV-Central by 3:00pm. I could write pages about my experience at Saber Mfg. and Sam, but I’ll just summarize by saying the man, his company, and his product, are among the best of the best!
The crew didn’t waste any time waiting on my return from Saber. They used the time to give the aircraft a thorough inspection and take care of loose ends. When I returned from Saber however, it was like ants to honey to get their hands on the prop extension. The new extension fit like a part in a jeweled watch, and thirty minutes later it was safety wired in place and ready for the new Catto prop. In the next hour the prop was mounted, safety wired, and Jay had the spinner cuts made. This accomplishment was a huge visual milestone in the RV-1’s “restoration” and everyone gathered around to enjoy the moment.
But wait… its still daylight, there’s fuel in the tank, and Walt said all the wiring was complete. Then, as if it were a voice from heaven, someone said “let’s start this thing”! After dispelling all the reasons why we shouldn’t do an engine start, everyone joined in a mission to hear it run... check the oil (drain 2-quarts), connect the battery and confirm switch operations, locate wheel chocks and a tail tie-down strap, etc. Ready now to push the RV-1 outside, we hear another voice…“Where’s the key?” And another… “What?, we don’t have a mag/start key?” A call to Walt at 52F confirmed that he inadvertently put the key in his pocket on his last visit. “We’ll wait for you, Walt… we’re ready for an engine start!” While waiting for Walt to fly over from 52F, the RV-1 was moved to the pad in front of RV-Central and safely secured. Where’s Walt?.... Where’s Walt?... Here he comes! And the rest in now in the history book! The engine start was uneventful (mechanically not emotionally) except for one loose oil line fitting.
Special thanks and acknowledgement go out to Bart & Sue at Aero Sport Power. They donated not only a complete engine inspection and test run, they paid the freight both ways! /reb
a very successful Engine Start
Thank You... Aero Sport Power!
Click on photo for link to Picasa Album >>
Link to Boomer's video of the event >> HERE
Work Day #14 report –
Since our last work day, the following items arrived at RV-Central: a set of really cool ‘period’ seat cushions from Oregon Aero, a beautiful custom propeller from Catto, a shiny new prop extension from Saber, a new set of Champion spark plugs from Tina’s Pilot Shop, and a vacuum pump driven gear from Air Salvage of Dallas. Generous vendor support has been the foundation of this project and they deserve your continuing support. Friday was a visit to Grady at Glo Custom for an update on the canopy, cowl, and wheel pants... and they’re right on schedule. The ‘crew’ gathered Saturday morning with Jay’s ‘punch list’ in hand, and by noon were ready to install the new Catto propeller.
Before installing the new prop, a trial fit of the new Saber extension revealed that something just wasn’t right. The extension fit the crank flange perfectly, but the flange bolts were the wrong size and appeared to be ½” too long. A quick call to Sam Tilleman, President of Saber Mfg., and all questions were answered – “the extension was ordered for an O-320 and you’re describing an O-290 with a thin flange”. Sam’s next words were; “My shop is in Granbury, and if you bring it over now I’ll machine the extension for an O-290 while you wait”. After a two hour round trip and one hour in Sam’s shop, the extension and a new set of bolts were back at RV-Central by 3:00pm. I could write pages about my experience at Saber Mfg. and Sam, but I’ll just summarize by saying the man, his company, and his product, are among the best of the best!
The crew didn’t waste any time waiting on my return from Saber. They used the time to give the aircraft a thorough inspection and take care of loose ends. When I returned from Saber however, it was like ants to honey to get their hands on the prop extension. The new extension fit like a part in a jeweled watch, and thirty minutes later it was safety wired in place and ready for the new Catto prop. In the next hour the prop was mounted, safety wired, and Jay had the spinner cuts made. This accomplishment was a huge visual milestone in the RV-1’s “restoration” and everyone gathered around to enjoy the moment.
But wait… its still daylight, there’s fuel in the tank, and Walt said all the wiring was complete. Then, as if it were a voice from heaven, someone said “let’s start this thing”! After dispelling all the reasons why we shouldn’t do an engine start, everyone joined in a mission to hear it run... check the oil (drain 2-quarts), connect the battery and confirm switch operations, locate wheel chocks and a tail tie-down strap, etc. Ready now to push the RV-1 outside, we hear another voice…“Where’s the key?” And another… “What?, we don’t have a mag/start key?” A call to Walt at 52F confirmed that he inadvertently put the key in his pocket on his last visit. “We’ll wait for you, Walt… we’re ready for an engine start!” While waiting for Walt to fly over from 52F, the RV-1 was moved to the pad in front of RV-Central and safely secured. Where’s Walt?.... Where’s Walt?... Here he comes! And the rest in now in the history book! The engine start was uneventful (mechanically not emotionally) except for one loose oil line fitting.
Special thanks and acknowledgement go out to Bart & Sue at Aero Sport Power. They donated not only a complete engine inspection and test run, they paid the freight both ways! /reb
Last edited: