DocRon

Just wanted to announce that Jan and I are fleeing Minnesota soon (where the hangar door has been frozen in clear ice since mid-January).  We bought a lovely hangar-home at the Montezuma Air Park (19AZ) in Camp Verde, AZ, and wiil live and fly happily starting in mid-June.  Visitors welcome with advanced notice.

(Now we won't have so far to fly to Page this coming October.)

I have a 2008 CTLS that had a rather nasty starting problem.  About 1/3 of the time, especially when the engine was cold, trying to start the engine would end with a Bang.  That is, the blades would turn over a time or two and then just stop so suddenly that it would shake the airframe.  For a time this happened 2-3 times before the engine would start.  I realized that this had to be hard on the engine but didn't know what to do.

Then my AI, Mr. Kent Johnson, at Stanton Sport Aviation (in Minnesota, www.stantonairfield.com) suggest the Softstart Module from Bully Hawk (www.bullyhawk.com) for $219.95 + shipping.  Kent installed this module on top of the existing ignition (see softstart2 image).  He added an additional starter button to the ignition panel (see softstart1 image) because of the new starting procedure.

The way this module works (in layman/amateur language) is that the module starts the engine on the number 2 mag initially with the timing retarded for a second or two.  Then the timing goes to normal shortly thereafter.  This causes the engine to start just as quickly but somehow more gently.  The new starting procedure is as follows:

1. Push Battery fuse IN.
2. Turn starter key to magneto 2.
3. Press starter button until engine starts.
4. Turn starter key to magnetos 1+2.

Sounds funny, works beautifully.  The engine starts easily and no more Banging to a stop in the starting sequence.

Best of all, Kent wired this module into the ignition system (don't ask me how) so the engine can be started either way: Softstart or Normally.  He also called Flight Design for permission and said that a LOA was on the way.  It took two hours of labor for the installation.

So, if you have this type of starting issues with your engine, consider this additon.  I'm very pleased with the result.

The Detroit Lakes Chapter #1498 of EAA will host a Fly-In on Saturday, July 14th this year.  In an effort to promote aviation awareness and public education we will do more than serve pancakes.  First of all, not only does each PIC eat free, but is entered in a PIC-only drawing for a Bose A-20 headset or an IPad II.  (So, if we have a slow day and only 10 pilots fly in, the odds are pretty good for one of these two prizes.)

We will have new demonstration aircraft from Flight Design, Cessna, and Cirrus (with others still not yet confirmed).  In addition Wipaire will bring up a Cessna Caravan on floats, 3-4 warbirds will be in attendance, 2 aviation-oriented universities will display their aircraft and academic programs, Highway Patrol Helicopters, and R/C aircraft.

Contact me via e-mail at ron@loretel.net for more information.