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

 Gee, Butch, after that story, I think I'll take my prop off and push this
sucker to Sun & Fun. In fact, it sounds like manning the ground testing
best be done from a bunker.  Looking forward to seeing you and the LAEV prop
at Sun & Fun.  Have you yet decided on the schedule you will make at Sun &
Fun?

Ed Anderson

 
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