Hi Guys;....Just got in today for a couple of days of R&R from the "Lock-Inn".

After the family/chatter briefings with Linda, I leisurely started catching up
with my backlog of newsletters figuring that it would be relaxing, that is,
until I read the first mention of running the LAEV on an aircraft PRIOR TO
STATIC TESTING, was made........At first I thought it was all a joke, I figured
somebody was pulling our pudding just to see how far this would go, so I began
to read only newsletters dealing with this thread......Expecting the issue to
be deep sixed in an instant......I have to be honest and admit that I'm shocked
to read, that this SNOWBALLED into a serious plan by a group comprising of high
standards individuals!!!.....IMO, such recklessness is beyond words or reason
not to mention danger and personal liability issues, so putting it bluntly,
There is NO WAY IN HEAVEN or HELL that I could ever sanction something like
this or anything resembling it.......I had the unfortunate and very rare
experience of witnessing a blade from a 3 bladed prop depart from a T-18 doing
a STATIC run-up half way in and out of a hanger,.......The blade literally cut
a Twin Grumman's fuselage in half, the Thorp was aggressively jerked, picked
and tipped on it's wing tip, the pilot was thrown up in the air and landed
solidly on his back on the concrete apron which shattered his spine, the Thorp
dropped down on one of it's mains, which collapsed, ruptured a tank, and the
hanging, swinging  SAFETY CABLED 0-360 started a manageable fire........Like
Vance said, "YO" all of the above took SECONDS......This means nobody had time
to think where to run to, never mind doing it.......Everybody was FROZEN
including Yours Truly which only stopped in for re-fueling.......What a heart
break of a disaster!!!!!

On that note my sincere gratitude goes to:-----Jerry, Russel, Herb, Chrissi,
Vance, Peter and anyone else I might have missed, for your SANE and SOLID
judgment in keeping these "Rogues" in check for me ;)

Okay, enough of this s--t........Let's get back on track and discuss the
sensible realities.

Paul if I recall correctly, the original plan was to run the tests on Tracy's
Test Stand, but was knocked down due to the engine not providing sufficient HP
to adequately test the prop?.....So are we back to square one?? I vote we
continue with the plan, finish the test stand, which is complete component
wise, with the exception of the Hydro torque cylinder which can be replaced by
borrowing Chuck Dunlap's very, very accurate tension gauge which is equipped
with a following needle. And like Jerry says, at this point in the project you
can have it welded up locally and we'll all share in the expense (We're not
talking big bucks here guys).
In the mean time you can concentrate on your engine and after you're finished
with the H2O pump.......Hell man, it's only a single stinking Turbo engine
which has most of the work scope completed, there must be somebody on the list
that would take it on??? Too bad I'm not an engine guy I'd sure do it.
Any one out there willing??
                                                      Butch

Ok Butch. It is your call. It is not the test stand that is the big hangup
but the 250 HP engine. With my 2.17 PSRU and stock turbo 13B I will be
lucky to see 250 HP. 

Paul Lamar
 
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