First Engine Start

 

Finally, the big day has arrived. Thankfully, we good a good sunny day in Seattle in Dec and decided to give it a go. Tied the tail down did all the checks, came up with a plan to check the engine at various settings, check for idle mixture setting, cycle the prop and test the mags. Here is the first video of the engine start:

 

 

 

 

We let the engine run at 1000 RPM till the oil temps got up to 90 deg F. Did tests for the idle setting - the airplane idles nicely at 650 RPM. Did a mag check at 1800 RPM as well as PMAG power check at 1000 RPM. Also cycled the prop and finally did the  quick PMAG check where they want us to note down the RPM where the power generation from internal mags goes back to the ship's power (it was around 800 RPM). As we shut down the engine we also verified the RPM increase as the mixture is cut. Everything looks good.

 

 

 

Here is the snapshot right after the first engine start. Since the aircraft was outside we also verified that the GTN 650 was seeing the satellites as well as calibrated the Dynon compass! One big step towards final inspection! Approx 5 hours in prep and the tests.