Elliot, let me just say this. If I was going to risk my life in a plane that I had built or rebuilt, I would seek you out from the other side of the earth in order to make sure I was not taking undue risks. You are without doubt in the 1% of 1% of people who can do this sort of work & it is insufferable to me that you & your channel have so few subscribers. It is, without doubt, of less concern to you but I'm happy that being a subscriber and commenting on your videos helps you in some way.
Thanks for saying that. I appreciate that people find value in the videos and hope that my mistakes can save other people some mistakes. This is hard stuff, and there are lots of ways to muck it up.
I wish the RU-vid algorithm had brought me here sooner. I’m not a pilot but I am an engineer and airplanes are cool. My background is embedded systems engineering and I’m currently looking for a job where I can leverage that background in the aerospace industry. I live in cincinnati where there are several large industry names but I prefer to work for a smaller company and I haven’t found that company yet. I really appreciate you bringing us along with you in these videos.
Thanks for visiting, I am glad you enjoyed the stop. Best of luck in your job search and please check back I think you’ll like the next video for its engineering challenges!!
Excellent job. Not only considering your safety but the safety of your team. Multiple people working on one machine requires a ton of awareness. I am absolutely impressed with your ability to reflect on mistakes no matter how small. A true engineer. Love the content.
Your attention to detail is exactly why I don't do what you do. I have to rely on guys like you to keep me safe. Looking forward to the next installment on the Thunder Mustang.
I feel selfish watching these and then clicking to the next video recommendation before I tell you how much I appreciate you sharing the adventure and spending the time to put it all together. So interesting watching you discover problems and work for the solution. It’s how my brain works but at a much lower level in comparison. Thanks mate, you’re a legend.
The red Walter engine on the test stand is mine. I had the black painted red. Got a lot of grief from John about doing so. John hated the color red - especially in the engine compartment. One thing I'll never forget John telling me. He said Quentin was even better than him when it came to working on Walters. Those who knew John know that means a lot. Great man... great pilot.
@@toast2610 In my case it's being used on the Lancair IVPT Propjet. You can see it if you click on my Flying Architect name and look at the video called "Lancair Propjet IVPT nearing completion" you can see the aircraft. Or maybe just search that on RU-vid. Toward the end of the video you'll also see a completed IVPT. (the video is poor so don't expect much... ) I believe originally it was used on various Czech twin engine transport aircraft operated in extreme conditions like extreme cold of unimproved runways. I'm certainly not an expert on that so my information may not be completely correct.
@@toast2610 thanks. I do have the EarthX batteries. The reduction in weight and the cranking power were too good to pass up. They did require some other electrical modifications from VRavionics but well worth it. I hope to make some videos from here out to show the complete, faa process, first flight, test flying and performance data, etc. thanks again.
Test pilots are cool. Love the insights and the technical content, and especially the parts showing you being the right blend of humble and self-critical on the test flight. The little nuggets of when things go wrong and lessons learned are great.
Well done for actually returning to hangers and not flying, even though you'd taxi'ed out. I think a lot of people wouldn't have returned. And sticking to your guns. Thanks for being vulnerable with your mistakes in this video. Gives us a great opportunity to learn of things to be aware of. Reminds me of the time I lowered flaps on a C172, during preflight, with my instructor under them...
God damn, 30 seconds in and just the intro (awesome editing) is mad hype. Great video, I learn stuff every time you pop up in my feed. Your channel has more or less single-handedly piqued a fascination and interest in a field I might never have really cared about otherwise. Thanks!
Great Video Elliot. Love hearing your thought process for everything. Seeing you go through all this with such enthusiasm, it amps me up for my next flight, Climbing and descending with a Student Sunday. love your professional approach to each flight. And greatly appreciate your time to get these videos out.
Welcome on youtube!!! It is a pleasure to follow this new channel. I am a phenom 300 pilot and I like to watching new channel in relation aviation. It help us to increase our aviation english. I am brazilian citizens and I need to improve my technical skill. Thanks to share with us.
Been watching your videos for quite some time now, and man I get excited for every new video. Im a student pilot currently seeking a private and have dreams of flying warbirds and doing different cool stuff in aviation like what you do. Listening to your extensive and detailed breakdowns is extremely rewarding and an awesome resource to say the least. Keep up the sick content!!!
I was born in DeLand and spent the majority of my 54 years here in Central Florida. I recently found your channel and I absolutely love the videos you are putting out. Super informative and great aerial shots. Looking forward to seeing more.
If the eyebrow lights backfeed problem bothers you, wire in a diode to prevent it. It is common way of fixing this issue. For example, in automotive applications they use a diode to prevent a backfeed problem from the alternator to the ignition system so that the engine won't continue to run after the ignition has been switched off.
Thanks for the comment. There are two questions embedded here. First has something failed to cause the eyebrow lights to function this way (is the airplane unsafe to fly). If not and they are functioning as intended is it within the scope of this Fcf/ferry program to modify the system (answer is probably no).
Beautiful aircraft. I'm an engineer and really like this video. In a discussion with a guy who flew one of these birds I was floored by the approach speed for landing this bird. Must have a huge wing loading!
Didn't think I'd sit through all that. But I did. And I love this project. Such a cool plane. Reminds me of the experimental turbine p51/f51 they made for close air support.
Glad your the roughly testing before flying and essentially starting over retesting again, not moving on until tested resolved to help ensure it is safe to fly.
As a pretty new pilot, before lineup I always ask myself on the smallest problems: "Will I regret not investigating [insert observation here] if something happens." If the answer is "No, this is an acceptable risk." Only then will I fly. If I am unsure, it is a clear nogo. This works also for pilot limitations.
The Cessna 206 D-EGGO is not Walter powered. Its a PT6A-20 powered. I developed the prototype and did all the Flight testing and STC Conformity flight testing for the Chicago ACO. My eye caught that fast frame because Ive built 4 of them. You provide good material and editing. Thank you.
'Deland, home of Walter engines' errr surely you mean Prague. Been working on the Walter (GE) engines since 98 and they are a fine engine. Walter as a company have changed somewhat since the GE rebrand and the 601 is becoming harder to have overhauled by them especially the D2 and D1. We are slowly converting to the H75 now and so far, touch wood, we haven't had too many issues although the FCU has give us a problem and you just have to hope the one of the many adjustments can sort it, saying that, a replacement can be made available very quickly. Never once have I seen a flame out because of air in the FCU. Although air in the FCU is not uncommon but easily and quickly resolved. What boost pump are you using, is there 1 pump for both tanks or 1 each, do you have the fuel filter with by-pass installed or is there no filter and you are just using the filter on the high pressure pump? Use GPU's it takes all the heart ache out of have bad starts or no start situations. BETA on a single is fun, you should try matching up a twin tail wheel BETA, now that is fun and is a total black art. Would love to have seen what they were adjusting? Are you running AC for the engine instruments or is it all DC?
First off as being less than a beginner, this video was great for me. Kudos. Second, off topic, what in the world is that intermediate beat? Sounds like like something I would adjust my valves to. Thank you in advance, even if you don't respond.
Flew an amphib Single Otter with the Walter engine for a short while. Loved it. Was a dream compared to the R1340. I get that lengthening the nose deals with the CG problem and I don't know anything about Mustangs but it seems to me that it isn't that much longer and there would be a huge difference in weight between the Walter and an Allison or Rolls. Were there any other measures taken to adjust CG?
How come nobody builds a home built kit of a mini-P51D mustang? Something that maybe has the look but utilizing a smaller motor and three blade prop. Bede I seen has a tiny tail dragger with a similar look.
@@jayphilipwilliams smaller talking like well under $40,000.00 with a smaller motor......something that could qualify as ultra lite aircraft. Nothing longer than a extended cab pickup 17-20 feet
The plane looks stunning but that merlin radiator scoop is just added drag. Why not extend the turbine exhaust into the scoop outlet. That makes use of the Meredith effect. Just like it did on the original.
This just made my weekend, thank you! As a kid I had the opportunity to fly traffic reports in SoCal, lighting off a jet ranger at 19 years old brought the pucker factor. I knew exactly what you meant when you were asking about shutting the engine down. On your caution light problem, if the pressure switch was back feeding the circuit, could you put a diode in line to act as a check valve? Thank you for taking the time to produce these.
Very interesting and the Mustang presents in immaculate condition. So is this an "H"or "K" variant ....say's he who tries to sound like he knows what he's talking about ! I do know the first Turbine Mustang was Rolls Royce Dart powered. I bet this bird "flies " if you'll pardon the pun ! What's the shp against a standard Merlin ? And the RR seems to be less traumatic! Thanks for sharing .
A turboprop Mustang.... That's something I never thought I'd see. Though i'm not the biggest fan of turbin-ing old planes, I must admit. It wears that curvy smooth nose pretty well! Gives it a sleeker, more modern profile, that still befits the design. Like a later model. An E or a G or something.
I'm a noob to you channel.. and obvi know that you are an extremely excellently talented test pilot with extensive knowledge of aircraft... are you "just a pilot?" Or do you also carry an A&P??? Thanks for the great content...and keep doin what you're doing!!!!
Curios....turbines are light but an at-6 turbine has approx 750 shaft H.P......or about 800 to 1000 fewer than original RR Merlin. . What kind of numbers does it produce.?
Somewhat pedantic, would you mind including a music credit in the description? A lot of the music in your videos has me replaying videos just for the music, though the rehearsal of technical procedure is not lost on me at all :) Haven’t enjoyed a RU-vid channel so relevant and useful as yours. Thank you for your hard work, it will be most useful
Greetings from Colorado, Elliot! Product and the productions of flight test make it easy and enjoyable to maintain my rating as a Fighter-Pilot-In-My-Own-Mind. Good stuff. Up there with The Flying Cowboys and those lunatics the Patey brothers for just cool schitt.
I usto fly in the back jump seat in a P51, with an ex-Korean war pilot. Ironically, John brought it back from the war and it his !!!! The P51 is similar to fly to a Cessna 180 on steroids. Both aeroplanes will bite you big time when your mind is on other things. The golden rule with both aeroplanes is one must keep one's mind above one's navel!!!
Awesome video, that start where it spits a flame is the coolest thing I have seen in a while! Wish I had known you were in Deland, I would have loved to see this thing take off. The traffic everywhere in NE Florida is really out of control, especially in the practice areas around DAB. Interested to see where you go for the check flight after this!
Thats correct. It's not uncommon in older fuel controller generations of turbine powered homebuilts. The cockpit geometry forces the builder to a throttle with a short throw. Then the delay in throttle response causes a PIO. Where the pilot is sawing on the throttle bouncing off temp limits.
Hahahaha! People calling you an idiot when it comes to anything to do with planes is like someone from "My 600 lb life" criticizing an olympic runner. Love the content and the depth of information in your videos. Thanks!
Awesome video! It almost felt more like a debrief than a project reintroduction. Not sure if your done flying at DED but Riddle’s least busiest days are usually over the weekend.
Thanks for the comment. The riddle thing really threw me for a loop, its hard to mix it up with 172s in a Thunder. Then you add that they are students and nervous and it makes things worse.
I'm sorry, I have to ask. Why was a test pilot, especially of your calibre hired to find issues with comms and breaks that don't work? It just seems like all this should have been found and fixed long before you got there. What worries me, a LOT actually, is that a lesser pilot would have had a VERY bad time with this. And who designed the failure light system such that nobody knew how it worked? I'd have expected something like that to be in the operator's manual.
Dang. I wish I knew this was going on. I live about 4 miles from the Deland airport and have friends all over that place. Made over 2000 jumps there. I actually rent a room to a guy that specializes in wire bundle repair/build for avionics, in case you guys need help on those lighting issues. Plus other maintenance pro's on the airport. Hope you had a chance to go to the Airport bar while you were here.
Thanks for the note, we definitely could have used the help. I struggled with asking the community for help while I was there. Any way I’ll do better next time. And that’s a big yes on the airport bar, both of them.
First time I had heard of/seen a Walter engine. Had to go dig up some info. Looks very PT6A-ish, at a fraction of the $$.?? The LNT is so cool it deserves a PT6, but I get it. (The parts to rebuild a PT6 are almost the exact price of the LNT listing) 8( Thanks so much for sharing Elliot!! I learn a lot every time! --gary
Great video! Very grateful that you shared your experience with the test flight attempt. The way you talk about it makes me think you will cancel earlier next time, and that's a very valuable lesson! Perhaps this helps a little bit: whenever I'm tempted to do things that feel dodgy, I ask myself: What would the accident report read when this goes wrong?
That’s interesting that you advance the condition lever before you engage the starter motor. I’ve seen that on the Saab 340, but we would get cooler starts by dry motoring the engine up to Max N2 (or Max Ng) before you introduce fuel. I wonder if that’s an option on the Walter? And perhaps it would not blow that flame out the exhaust too?
Cool question. Most importantly the Bowers is doing great. We were supposed to fly today but I had family photos. Those guys are so great. We have done two flights on the airplane, but I haven’t edited them yet. Choosing between the bowers and the LnT would be tough. Speeds are similar, the Walter burns more gas. Handling is very comparable. I’d say the Stewart is a bit lighter on the controls, especially in pitch. Thanks for asking!!
Please tell me this isn't an actual p51 airframe and it's just a replica or a thundermustang body? I love jet engines but to see a turboprop in an original p51 airframe would brake my heart
Glad to see another video. You looked a bit uncomfortable in the cockpit on that flight attempt and it seemed the canopy couldn't close. I guess it's part of the job and type of plane, in this case.
Yeah, I was struggling with the risks and the need to perform. While I am embarassed that it took so long, I think I made the right call and the lesson learned is something I think we all struggle with. Thanks for the comment.
@@utopiasnow Thanks for replying! You have my absolute dream job tbh. I ended up working in aviation but mostly with large commercial transport engineering. In my country becoming a test pilot is only really possible through a military route. Flight testing is so much more than taking a new aircraft for a spin, it is a complete field of applied science and the human factor makes it all the more interesting. Thanks for your uploads, the more nerdy the better for me :D
@@utopiasnow And I wholeheartedly agree with what you said; better a late call than no/wrong call. The fact that you show this to the world points to the reason aviation is so safe as it is. Aviation is all about continuous learning and improvement and this was a fine example.
37:41 @Elliot Seguin Embry-Riddle has been using Deland as a second base of operations as KDAB has become oversaturated in the mornings from 5am to noon, so about 30% to 50% of the fleet flies out of Deland for that first part of the day, so around 25 to 35 C172's. Its kinda a new thing, though even before about 15% of the fleet would use Deland for pattern practice. KEVB and KOMN kinda don't like all the traffic so deland got hit with the residual
Enjoyed this. Not sure I like that 'all-on' eyebrow indicator set up. I think hydraulics should have their own light(s), maybe a bit larger than the others, and how about a M/C button for certain systems?...
Thanks for the comment. I didn't say it in the video explicitly but yeah my intent was to get this fixed long term. For now we just needed to get the airplane moved.
Awesome video, thank you for continuing to share a pretty unique view of how the test program sausage gets made! But, I gotta ask: At about 4:20, in your montage of Walter-powered homebuilts, there's a grey twin-boom pusher that really looks like it's either a seaplane, an ELINT platform, or possibly both. I tried a reverse image search and some Googling and I have found nothing. Do you have any info you can share?
A bit more Googling reveals it is this thing: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateer_Industries_Privateer .. intriguing! Anyhow, thank you again for the great videos!
How dare you put that Go pro in the scoop, now my girlfriend is having doubts that I am the smoothest, greasiest wheeler lander in my world. 😉 Great work as always, thanks mate.
I think your radio problem was that the background bass notes are too loud. Pappy Boyington would probably have approved of your music choices, but possibly not your commitment to total safety.
