Warbird Information Exchange

Dave,

I'm sure this has been asked, but do you have an update on the next engine arrival?

RICK

Video posted by headquarters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAIKOPsQ82E

Congratulations to Dave, Gary, and the rest of the crew!

The next engine was ready to test and ship to Midland but we made a deal with Ray Anderson to let the Rare Bear have that engine for Reno. Won't go into all the details but this is a win win for everyone.
Our next engine is already being started and should be ready by December.
Dave

Sunday September 6, 2009. FIFI leaves the hangar for a full power test on the new engine on the number three position.





Set in place just outside the hangar by 500 feet or so, the engine gives the very first puff of smoke!






The very first rounds under her own power. Look at that smoke!






Smoke cleared and now we're goin!






Full power and now, the full 2000 horse power! Feel the Thunder in your chest. Man can that baby purr!






One down and three to go! The light is at the end of the tunnel. Here she is on the tarmac, just waiting for the day.






John communicates with the crew in the cockpit via intercom. Every thing is a go here!






The final word from the crew chief, Dave. Look at that grin. All the numbers are good. Boy, is he a happy camper!

really GREAT, and WOW, can't wait to see her air born. great job guys, thanks for the update.

Not a critique - a question: Is it okay to run a single engine to full power without its symmetrical partner run up as well? Maybe it's a C-130 thing.

Congrats on the success - the shiny prop hub is looking fine (particularly while turning)!

At the very least, it allows the FiFi-style "frankenengine" to be tested under very demanding actual-flight circumstances at zero risk to the CAF, right?

Dupe message

This has been brought up to me before. I checked with Boeing engineers and know from experience that Boeing aircraft, in particular are built 50 % stronger that actual loads on the airframe that could occur. You have to think about this for just a minute to realize the question. Did they ever run an engine after an engine change, to full power? Of course they did. Do we do that today? Of course we do. These airplanes are designed to withstand the loads of a single engine run at full power, no problem!! We did it with 707's, DC-9's, 727"s, 737's. I'm told they did it on the B-29's, DC-7's, Connies and the C-119's.
Good question.
Dave

I can only add a few photos that my wife took while we were doing this historic engine run. Marks shot of the prop in full sweep is very cool!.

This is John Flynn and I going over the prestart and after start check list.




This is the first puff of smoke from the start for the media run.


this is after the run and I put up the flags,

This is soooooo slick.

Condradulations to all.

Just a quicky question.

Would you be able to post at one point pics of the engines without the cowlings on of both the new & old set-up side by side ? Will make for an interesting point of view.

I am mostly curious to see all the changes related to the custom exhaust and how much it also affected the nacelles.

Again, tks for sharing

What a fantastic sight! Wel Done to all involved!!l

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Cheers,
Peter

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If all 4 engines were removed from a B-29 would it sit on its tail? How many can come off at a time without adding weight to the nose?

Great work on the hybrid engines!!! Congratulations!!!

I thought the same thing. If you tried that on a Herc, you'd end up facing another direction, ripping apart a truss mount and tearing up the landing gear. 19,600lbs is a lot of torque (-15)...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

The book says to put a jack under the tail when you pull an engine. there was no weight on the tail though. wouldn't want to have two off without support but one seems ok.

Dave