REFLECTOR: N4PE "The Ape" First Start

Douglas Holub doug.holub at comcast.net
Mon Feb 27 08:23:15 CST 2006


Congratulations Brian!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Michalk" <michalk at awpi.com>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 11:23 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: N4PE "The Ape" First Start


> Ten years ago, on Valentines day our kit arrived.  Today we had the first 
> engine start.
>
> I can now say I'm the proud owner of a running Franklin/IVO combination.
> I've got two electronic fuel injection systems, electronic ignition, and a 
> magneto.  It's turbocharged with intercoolers.  I fabricated the stainless 
> steel intake and exhaust manifold from scratch since there were no other 
> working examples to copy.  I worked out the math on the injectors, turbo, 
> fuel pumps, and all of the components that are simply not available in a 
> package.  I had a lot of concerns over whether it would work or not.  I 
> watched other people's failures and tried not to make the same mistakes.
>
> I am very pleased that the large turbo breathes quite well with the open 
> waste gate.  In fine pitch, I am able to make 2250 RPM.  Deeter's Franklin 
> will do 2400RPM static.  The MAP at 2250 was 28PSI.  I calculated I would 
> lose a little less than 1PSI across the intercoolers, and didn't know what 
> the drop would be for the turbo.
>
> The engine starts like a dream on the Autronic electronic engine 
> management system.  I did have some problems though.  I completely messed 
> up the magneto wiring.  I have no idea how I did it, but once we got that 
> problem sorted out, the engine ran like a top.  I am leaking oil out the 
> turbo, and need to look at the scavenge pump.  I might have it hooked up 
> backwards.  During the high power runs we needed to tweak the mixture 
> because it was originally too lean for the stock setting. The power 
> control is a single knob affair.  The Autronic calculates all of the 
> mixtures for operation.
>
> I installed a Linksys router in the airplane that has been hacked to run 
> Linux.  We logged the engine data to a laptop via the wireless connection. 
> For the first flight we intend to get telemetry via 802.11, and maybe even 
> put a webcam on board.
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