Hi all,
has anyone tried air starting the veedub engine? I was chatting to an ex-RAF Chipmunk instructor and he says they just used to dive at the deck when the engine stopped and 'hey presto' it would start again!
Anyone achieved this in a Nipper?
regards
Gary T
G-AVKI
Air starting the veedub engine?
Re: Air starting the veedub engine?
Hi Gary
Yes I have acheived this feat after it went all quiet up front at the top of a loop
I carried on with the loop but without the pull out bit. ie into a Stuka dive in the hope the engine would turn over and start. I remembered reading somewhere that a bit of yaw helps so I applied a little left rudder and hey presto the engine burst into life (by the way I had closed the throttle, checked fuel and mags etc) 
I wouldn't recommend this as good practice as I had lost 2500ft without realizing and pulled out of the near Vne dive at 1000ft. If the engine had not started..................well it doesn't bear thiking about as I had lost all my margin for a planned forced landing 
. On the other hand in those early days of Nippering nobody said you won't air start a VW so i didn't know any better!.
I have not thankfully had occasion to try it again. I fitted an ellison throttle body soon after the incident as it was the float in the original carb that caused the problem (plus my botched loop
)
I think best would be to practice PFL's as the Nipper has the glide characteristics of a brick (1:3.6) If you want to do aeros do them over an airfield or strip or over a field that you know you could land in the event of an engine stop. Dont be put off by this (it didn't me). the Nipper is a great little aeroplane. Enjoy
Fly safe
Stuart
Yes I have acheived this feat after it went all quiet up front at the top of a loop
I carried on with the loop but without the pull out bit. ie into a Stuka dive in the hope the engine would turn over and start. I remembered reading somewhere that a bit of yaw helps so I applied a little left rudder and hey presto the engine burst into life (by the way I had closed the throttle, checked fuel and mags etc) I wouldn't recommend this as good practice as I had lost 2500ft without realizing and pulled out of the near Vne dive at 1000ft. If the engine had not started..................well it doesn't bear thiking about as I had lost all my margin for a planned forced landing . On the other hand in those early days of Nippering nobody said you won't air start a VW so i didn't know any better!.I have not thankfully had occasion to try it again. I fitted an ellison throttle body soon after the incident as it was the float in the original carb that caused the problem (plus my botched loop
)I think best would be to practice PFL's as the Nipper has the glide characteristics of a brick (1:3.6) If you want to do aeros do them over an airfield or strip or over a field that you know you could land in the event of an engine stop. Dont be put off by this (it didn't me). the Nipper is a great little aeroplane. Enjoy
Fly safe
Stuart
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microlightgary
- Posts: 36
Re: Air starting the veedub engine?
Hi Stuart,
thanks for that candid and slightly hair raising reply! I hadn't realised the Nipper's glide ratio was quite so poor... I shall make sure that my next flight involves a few PFL's and will certainly ensure that I have good land out options during aero's. Still haven't managed it yet though as I'm determined to have a Pro show me the ropes before I go it alone (new to aero's and desperately trying to be responsible!).
regards
Gary T
thanks for that candid and slightly hair raising reply! I hadn't realised the Nipper's glide ratio was quite so poor... I shall make sure that my next flight involves a few PFL's and will certainly ensure that I have good land out options during aero's. Still haven't managed it yet though as I'm determined to have a Pro show me the ropes before I go it alone (new to aero's and desperately trying to be responsible!).
regards
Gary T
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