stunthanger.com
General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: FLOYD CARTER on August 15, 2008, 11:13:09 AM
-
Is there a rule against starting an engine briefly ON the flight line, then stopping it, THEN signalling the judges fto start the clock?
This comes to mind because I happen to have an engine (no names, please) that sometimes defies my best efforts at starting. Sometimes it takes right off, and other times it will not even "bump". I would change motors, but don't have another one to fit the mounts.
Floyd in OR
-
At this year's Stuntathon, I forgot the hand signal and started my engine. Somebody yelled, "hand signal!" So I gave a hand signal. After some thought, I decided that this wouldn't work, so I stopped the engine and gave another hand signal. I then motored the engine with the starter for a long time. It wouldn't start. I choked it and motored it some more. It wouldn't start. Somebody yelled, "battery!" I then hooked up the battery, the engine started, and I flew some stunt.
-
I think I would let the Judges know ahead of time that you wanted to run a prime thru the engine before your official. Judges have always been fair with me.
-
Is there a rule against starting an engine briefly ON the flight line, then stopping it, THEN signalling the judges fto start the clock?
There is nothing wrong with starting the engine and thenkilling it THEN giving the hand signal that you are ready to start. Well, as long as you didn't give a hand signal prior to the first start.
As stated above, it WOULD be nice if you wouild let the judges know afforehand of your intents.
Bigiron Oh yes---it has been done MANY times
-
And if everyone did it the contest would take forever.. Most burp the engine in the pits just before the official.. Of course making sure the prop wash isn't directed towards other airplanes...
Now that electric starters are not so taboo that would be my choice with a stubborn two stroke.. I use one on my 4 strokes and no longer see or feel the need to flip.. flip... flip...
-
Howard. I'm a bit surprised that you have publicly confessed to the Stuntathon debacle ,It takes a real man to do that. I'll long remember it as a perfect demonstration of you being the loveable " ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR " Keith Varley
-
Howard is my all time favorite entertaining poster. Keep it up Howard. I love your posts. The stuff you posted from the Worlds was just great.
I was flying at Topeka's contest a few years ago, and had just primed my Fox 35 in my first Magician. I was flipping the prop to work in the prime without the battery connected, and off she went. Grabbed the spinner to shut it down, signaled the judges, and restarted. I kind of surprised everybody but I have had it happen before in practice. Never flip a Fox 35 with fuel in it unless you are ready for it to start.
When I fly ignition I generally fire the engine up, turn off the switch, signal the judges, turn on the switch, and fire it back up. Most of the time doing this I get first flip starts.
-
Is there a rule against starting an engine briefly ON the flight line, then stopping it, THEN signalling the judges fto start the clock?
No. It's a courtesy, however, to start it off to the side (not *in* the pits, or at least in such a way no to blow on other airplanes) instead.
At the 93 NATs, my engine started while I was trying to choke it. with no battery. I stopped it and signalled, but after about the 3rd time I gave up trying to choke it. I never quite got the guts to signal and then attempt to start it with no battery - which would have made me the coolest guy in Lawrenceville, IL - but I have no doubt it would have fired right off.
Brett
-
Everybody has their own way of getting ready to fly or start en engine. Thanks to Bigiron and Silverfox I try to burp my engine in the pits with the plane aimed away from the other planes. At VSC and the NATS I do it when I know I have a couple of planes ahead of me in the flight order. Some times I have to turn the plane over and I myself do not like electric starters, but, if I ever started using carbon props then the starter would be mandantory. It takes practice and knowing your equipment. Have fun, DOC Holliday