Start-up of John Cournoyers Spartan Executive

 

     Yesterday morning saw the start-up and engine run of John Cournoyers Spartan Executive. The airplane had not moved under its' own power since 1992. John had the engine majored in the meantime.

They had a fuel pump/transfer problem that only allowed them to run the engine for a few minutes on the header tank, before running that tank dry.

 

John keeps a watchful eye on the Spartans' engine.

 



     Today, a new pump in place, that problem was resolved and they were able to run the engine for several minutes. Coming soon is the gear swing.

Lesson from the Master

 

It's been 4 years since I've stitched anything so prudence dictated that I have

Glenn give me a little dual on rib-stitching before I venture off alone.

The weather is really dreary in STL today...

 

I'll just stay inside and poke rib-stitching holes.

From the Bear-Cave

Worked on the bottom of the wing today. Had marked it yesterday, so applied the reinforcing tapes and polybrushed them down today. Had to stop--got too dark and to cold to continue.

What's this??? Progress on the Cub??? I kid you not!

Pulled the wings out, dusted them off and got to work. Measured the holes for rib-stitching and polybrushed/applied the reinforcing tapes for the stitches.

Going to see if I can stab myself tomorrow with a 12" needle (if it doesn't storm, I'm doing this in my hangar.)

Departing for Tullahoma

 

Les does a final walk-around.

Les Grotpeter's Beechcraft Staggerwing headed off today to its new home at the Staggerwing Museum in Tullahoma, TN.

Russell Williams wins a deserved award!

 

(Click to enlarge)

 

My friend Russell Williams won an award up at Blakesburg.