Stearman N54173 Restoration

First engine start

© All pictures on this page are copyrighted by Lee Searles unless otherwise noted
Pic 501

Lee Searles in the pilot's seat - ready to start her up the very first time after the restoration.

These photos show the initial roll-out and the initial engine start that was successful except for a fuel shut-off valve leak that was subsequently corrected. Incidentally, the fuel shut-off valve is of extraordinary quality. John Dimmer owns a machine shop and had a new cone for the valve machined from Teflon - perhaps the only one in the world - that will likely last forever. The original cone was of course made of cork.

Pic 502

Note the wooden prop

Pic 503
Pic 504
Pic 505
Pic 506
Pic 507
Pic 508

4th Sept. 1996

The engine is running!!

This is the initial puff of smoke of the overhauled engine

Pic 509
Pic 510


Valid HTML5 Valid CSS3!