Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

June 17, 2004

Ladies & Gentlemen:

Last Friday, June 11th, Ed, Keith, Jon, Ed II, and Bill traveled north for about 900 miles to Fort St. John, British Columbia to spend four days test firing the engine that will be used next fall for low speed test runs. Saturday, Bernard joined the team after driving up by himself. 

The team spent four full days troubleshooting for reasons why the engine's afterburner would not light properly to produce flame out the tail of the engine.

Each day the guys from S&S Turbines Services (Robin, Al, Brian, Dave & Lane) and the guys from Team NAE� (Ed, Keith, Jon, Bill, Ed II & Bernard)  worked together efficiently to perform at least two engine runs per day. Bernard made some improvements to the throttle set up in the control house, while Ed & Keith resealed a fuel leak on the bottom of the engine by replacing a gasket. Lane and Jon removed the air exhaust vents and replaced the gaskets with better ones to allow for greater flow volume; thus lessening the compressor blades section pressure and allowing the engine to run more efficiently.

Media from Dawson's Creek, B.C. was invited to come out and view an engine run and do interviews with Ed and Robin. But still the engine would not bealch flames out the back end. At the end of the third day, Bill Eckberg, the team's engine mechanic, was frustrated. There was one more day left and the pressure was growing to get the afterburner (AB) working. 

On the last day, Robin and Bill narrowed the cause down to the fuel flow pressure into the torch tube. They added a needle valve to the line, ran the engine and tested the flow rate. Once it was set and hooked back up, the AB finally lit off and performed beautifully. The problem was solved in the last hour or so of the final day. Needless to say, the team celebrated with handshakes, hollers, and congratulations to each other for a job well done.

The next day the team headed back south to Seattle while the guys at S&S Turbines Services completed some minor adjustments to the engine before shipping it south to the NAE™ Shop.

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