best ideas I've gotten from other combat
fliers..
what we all strive for on the flight line.
Shown below are some of the better ideas
I've gotten from other combat fliers. Each
of the pictures below can be clicked on for
a larger image.
from 2000 Nats Open B Champion Ron Horton. The
starter has the gel cell battery located below it so that it
can be moved freely without hindrance of a cord. It also
has holes drilled into it for my NiStarter and the forceps I
routinely carry. A sheet of Lexan was purchased for
about $3, a switch was purchased so it could be turned
off when not in use and tie wraps hold the battery to the
lexan plate. Not shown are the sheet metal screws that
hold the starter to the Lexan plate. I can't tell you how
many times at contests my starter is used by other pilots
to get their equipment running.
showed at the Waverly contest in September of 2002. The idea is have a package that
contains everything you will need at the flightline, include a starting stand, and have it
easily moveable to the flight line.
The base is a Stanley Rolling Toolbox available at Home Depot for $20. Inside are two
interlocking trays that will hold all your props, plugs, spare parts, charging equipment, and
miscellaneous tools. The bottom is deep enough to hold a gallon of fuel and a 12 volt
garden tractor battery for recharing.
The PVC rack is attached to the cart top (which can be removed) with pipe clamps. I
decided to drill holes in the base legs to hold the most often needed tools like plug
wrench, head wrench, screw drivers, ball drivers and pliers. It works very well. I no longer
have to make trips back to the pit area to retrieve tools to do something on the flight line.
I decided I liked it so much that I would also make a ply table to slip over the PVC stubs to
do engine break in and engine testing.
This simple stand has really made it much easier to compete in a contest and be
prepared for any occurence. Try it, you'll like it.
