Hello Boys and Girls, I don't usually make posts to the group, but this is somewhat of a red letter day - for me at least. I can't go "yeehaa" yet, but I can go "yee". Just got back from Corvair College # 23. I t was actually my 4th college. I went to # 9 because I had just heard about building your own aviation engine. Had no tools or engine parts. Just went to see what was what. Got fascinated with it. Went back to one later on with a couple of engines and did an engine dis-assembly. Went to my third one to assemble everything but had some wrong parts and just couldn't do half of what I wanted to do. Even so, I had a great time at every one, learned some more every time. My friend Jared came with me to the third one and he was also amazed at the engine work (he is a big motor guy) and commented that he didn't even know that people like that existed any more (referring to the homebuilt crowd - in a good way). So I had to come back to my fourth college. The engine was 90% assembled. I really just needed to mount the starter and dynamo. I had been working on a rear starter set up and I might have eventually gotten there but it would have taken a real long time. So I gave up on that concept and just bought WW's front starter set up and alternator bracket (already had the dynamo). Also picked up the gold oil housing unit so that I could properly feed the oil requirements of Dan's 5th bearing. And we discussed the benefits of front versus rear set up and I now feel that I did a better move just going with the front set up. I just think it's a little bit more secure. But your opinion may vary. The big news is that my engine ran for about 30 minutes. She sounded strong and stable. It was a genuine thrill. When we first started it, she ran great and after about 15 seconds it died. We (well really William) had forgotten to turn the fuel on. So we did it again and she ran great for her 30 minute break in period. Oil pressure was good, everything was where it needed to be. I know a bunch of you have already finished your projects and are now flying and the thrill of that must be indescribable. But this engine run was damn close. I am not a motor guy. What I know now - which is a good bit - I have learned from the Corvair club, the KR crowd and from William's Colleges. All that in less than 10 years. I actually took apart an engine, changed some parts, put it back together and now own an aviation engine - that runs. That is just too cool. I do want to especially thank you William for holding my hand through a large part of this process. Yes, you are in the business of selling parts and I bought some from you. But a lot of people sell parts. Helping people put them in and educating them about the parts and why/how they work is above and beyond. A lot of guys can do it by themselves. The rest of us need these Colleges.
So, the long and short of it is that I am a whole lot closer to having a flying KR2S than I was last week. This engine will spur me to get moving and get serious about building. I just read about the Blackbird's flight with a stock 2700 Corvair. That will be me. My target is next year. Ray New Orleans YEEEEEEEE! Can't wait to add the HAAAAAAA.
