I'm looking for an in-flight engine starter. I read an article about a while back and now I would like one of these. any idea where to get one?

Yes, they still have them. They are about $150-200 and are for 40 size and larger engines. I wouldn't put one on a 40 though, it's probably way too heavy.

You should find out what electric motors used, they always start really well [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I installed one of these in a cub I was building. Personally, I think it's a waste of time, space and money. Especially for a small plane. The battery required to start the thing is a very limiting factor, not to mention the extra servo required, and the on board glow igniter. And how do yuou prime the engine?!

And the biggest question I had to ask why? He wanted to be able to start and 'wam up' his cub while finishing his coffee!!

That's just my two cents...

I have a Byro-Drive 3:1 reduction set-up that came with a half finished 1/3rd scale Pitts that I acquired for some work that I did for a guy. It has an Eastcraft Lectra-Started installed along with a new Piped Rossi 61. (I put a Tartan Twin on it and it flies really well) The paper work that came with it states that Eastcraft Speciality Products Inc. is in Irwin Pa, PO Box 25, Zip 15642. They list a Phone # of 1 412 864-4959. If you can't find them there, you might try Iron Bay, since they "bought out" Byron Originals.

the reason i want this is because i want to put a camera on a senior telemaster. this way i can get up where i want to be shut it down and snap some pic's, then fire it back up and bring it down. since the telemaster will run on anything from a 40 thru a 60 it should be able to take on the extra weight of the starter and my camera. behind a gms 76

We have a fellow flyer at our Club that used to take pictures with his Pizazz after cutting the engine to avoid vibrations. Then he had to dead stick it to the ground. Was always "interesting" to watch him but he is a good flyer. The he solved the problem by building a platform for the camera. He sandwiched a good piece of foam (aprox. 3/4") between two pieces of wood. One side holds the camera and the other attaches to the plane. Vibrations problem solved. And his photos are always great. Actually, when planes are lost he goes up and scouts!!!!
Albert

i found seat cushion form the local craft store to be invaluable. i plan on using this foam in a generous size frame for the camera and just in case i'd like the starter. bty i found the one at hobby lobby. $145.00 I'm considering it and will probably go with it.

i was just sitting here explaining what priming is to the wife when i realized.... why would you need to prime it if you just shut it off? and if it is a problem just pull your trim all the way down and crank it for a second or two with the throttle closed then give it some trim or throttle.... really, what kinda question is that?

I'd like to thank you Beto9. when you said about someone putting one on a Pizaz I started thinking about my magic. the camera sits inside seat cushion foam and that sits inside a basswood box that's rubber banded to the top of the wing. all I have to do is dial in some flaps and it flys quite well, good enought to run off a roll of pictures anyway. and they didn't come out bad either. now all I have to do is develope an "eye" for aiming... thanks

Hello; I bought a FF 320 OS engine which came with an on-board starter. I have never mounted the engine to a plane, though I have started and ran the engine a few times. The battery pack weighs over two pounds! Granted an engine that size would ride in a large plane which wouldn't feel the weight as much as a smaller plane. Modern engines are very reliable, and with proper vibration reducing mounting, yo9u should be able to get clear pictures with the engine at idle. The big Telemaster probably wouldn't mind the extra weight.

Couldn't you just use an onboard glow starter?? I would assume you could cut the motor to take pictures, switch on the glow plug and throttle up...using the air speed to turn the motor over. Would be less weight to carry???

I don't think there would be enough airspeed on the prop to turn it past the compression. My experience is that when the engine stops, the prop usually doesn't windmill.

Roodester

Here are a few ideas for the starter, The FEMA did work out ok after I discarded the instructions (they are in german anyway) Works like a champ. The other one no one knows who made it but would love to have another one.

do you have the fema website? and who in the states sell those starters. Dave

guys,

a couple of you are saying that the batteries weigh a ridiculous amount, but I was wondering why don't you just get two 7.4v nicd packs from radio shack, run them in series and carry that. they are not that heavy and you probably could get by with less than that seeing as you are only using it for one start (maybe) two in between charges. I run this setup on my cordless ground starter and it works for 2 weeks of hard use before recharging. you could probably pick up a 1000 mah 11.1 volt lithium battery from apogee and use that as it will be enough to crank you 70 size engine provided it is geared right. This would be very light and get you a lot of starts. it would only take one battery to do the job without the weight of 2 batteries run in series. i can't help with the weight of the starter. my other suggestion would be to use a smaller engine and thus a smaller starter.

Hobby-Lobby also sells one.
Dale

hate to say it, but why not just go with electric motor etc. start, stop on a dime. easy. not cheap but super reliable and smooth. might not even have to cut the motor to take the pics.