First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:46 pm
by Waiex 49
Rolled the Waiex out of the hangar today and did the first start of the Viking engine.
I was very impressed by how quickly it started up and how nicely it runs.
Here is a link to the video:
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:25 pm
by fastj22
Exciting! Odd seeing an engine run without a prop, but I guess the redrive eliminates that need. Look forward to your flight reports.
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:40 pm
by Waiex 49
The Viking has a flywheel and can run without the prop.
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 11:08 pm
by Bryan Cotton
Cool!
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 2:55 am
by WaiexN143NM
Hi don,
Congrats on engine start. Look forward to you getting back in the air and see you at Rio Linda this year!
WaiexN143NM
Michael Radtke
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:12 pm
by rizzz
Well done Don,
Hope you get her back in the air soon.
Will you be required to put the aircraft back into “Phase 1 Testing” with a completely different engine on it now?
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:51 pm
by Waiex 49
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the kind words.
Depending on the demands of home and work life, I hope to get airborne in April. The big push is to make it to the Rio Linda Sonex fly-in this year.
I spoke to the local FAA and I will have to send them a letter telling them that I installed the new engine and requesting a Phase 1 test area. When they approve I will have to do five hours in Pase 1 testing before the plane returns to normal operations.
By the way, I really like your plane and the engine you built for it. Great stuff!
Don
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 6:35 pm
by rizzz
Thanks Don,
I’m really enjoying finally flying my bird.
5 hours is nothing, you’ll be able to knock that off in a weekend 
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 9:24 pm
by N111YX
Nice work, Don. Good to see once again the airplane that I did my first “Waiex solo” in…
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:08 am
by Waiex 49
Hi Kip,
As you know, N49YX was skillfully built and a total blast to fly.
I just never had any luck with the AeroVee and after a thrilling dead stick landing I decided to go with the Viking.
I’m really looking forward to getting it back in the air.
Got one of your tail wheel brackets installed on it!
Best regards,
Don
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 11:58 am
by gcm52
That is a great accomplishment! What has your experience been as a Viking customer so far? Was the engine delivered on time? Was there any firewall forward support? Any glitches you had to overcome and if so was the customer service good from the factory?
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 2:35 pm
by Waiex 49
Hi George,
I am very happy with my experiences as a Viking customer.
Everything was delivered on time, as promised.
Firewall forward included engine mount adaptors (AeroVee mount to Viking), cowlings, propeller, spinner, ECU’s, gearbox, radiator, oil cooler, etc. They provided pretty much everything I needed except hardware and misc. bits needed for my Dynon system.
Viking now offers a “grab bag” of misc. bits such as plumbing fittings, coolant, etc. that pretty much makes the firewall forward complete. You could buy these items separately, but you will pay more for shipping from all the individual suppliers.
Viking has a great installation manual that you can download, plus a large number of installation videos they have posted to YouTube.
Support from Viking has been very good. I didn’t need much in the way of support, but when I e-mailed them with my questions I always received a response within 24 hours.
The only difficulty I have had with my Viking installation is that I have a very active career and home life that don’t allow me to work on the plane as much as I would like. Also, my plane is in a hangar 25 miles from home, so I don’t get to work on it every night as I would if it were in my garage.
I have detailed all my experiences on my web page: www.mykitlog.com/donbowen
I don’t drink anyone’s cool aid. Not Sonex’s nor Viking’s.
I love the Waiex, but for me the AeroVee was a complete disaster.
I believe this will be an outstanding engine/airframe combination that will suit my needs.
Re: First start up - Viking Waiex N49YX
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:38 pm
by SonexN76ET
Don,
That is an impressive looking engine installation!
I look forward to hearing about your flight reports!
It is always good to learn from the experiences of others.
You have my respect for taking on this challenge and being one of the first.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Jake