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.

 

Final Assembly

 I have send the paperwork to DAR, who then suggested I forward it to MIDO. So preparation for inspection is in full-swing. I have been busy making decals and placarding the aircraft appropriately. Ordered and applied the N-numbers, which I think came out pretty nice:

 

 

 

Also, many small details to take care of. E.g. figuring out the batteries for the ELT, noting down their expiration dates. Updating all the avionics software, taking care of any service bulletins and making a list of the ones that are applicable etc. Pretty time consuming but its another step towards final inspection (approx. 20 hrs).

Weight and Balance

Big day today! Last few days we have been spending all our energy taking care of million small things. But today everything was put together and we were ready to go ahead and weigh the airplane.

 

 

We borrowed actual aircraft scales from an A&P/IA, levelled the fuselage, marked the positions with chalk lines and measured everything (2 hrs). Here are a few pictures of the airplane on the scales:

 

 



 

Here is the final reading. I am happy with the weight. My goal was to have it under 1100 lbs, so 1080 lbs is definitely pretty good. Spent the evening doing the final calculations and getting it ready to send the info to the DAR.

 



Here are the measurements:

Main Wheel, Right: 510 lbs, Arm at 68.92
Main Wheel, Left  : 509 lbs, Arm at 68.92
Tail Wheel             : 61  lbs, Arm at 251.8125

Total Weight: 1080 lbs
Empty CG    : 79.25