Fokker Triplane LeRhone engine first run

[@michaeldickerson9428]

It is amazing to me how far aviation technology had come by 1918. Thank you for sharing!

[@edstoro3883]

Congratulations on first run !!! That is such a relief feeling when it finally starts. Happy landings.

[@eriklapparent4662]

Super job!As we see an engine designed in France was installed on a plane flown by the enemy,at that time.Sincere congrats and cheers from France !

[@EvilMerlin]

Designed in France, but built in the US! On a German airframe, built in the US!

[@ryanking1595]

REO Speedwagon blasting in the background reminds me of the days building models with my Dad and brothers!

[@BlueBaron3339]

Outstanding! With that entire engine a single spinning mass, flying it may prove quite a challenge. But you guys are *more than thoroughly aware of that* I am sure.

[@Acrisa01]

Congratulations! Have been working on my own 1943 Aeronca L3-B for 5 years. Your project is amazing. Hope you upload a video flying it!! Greetings from Chile South America

[@rq9551]

Congratulations John in achieving and making a childhood dream come true. It was an uphill battle that you won on11.11.2024. perseverance at its best. Enjoy the Tri..... Wana see it flying.....

[@rq9551]

And to Andrew for his support along the way

[@Joey-cq4nn]

That is amazing... first pull!!!

[@glenn_cheatham]

Very cool! And to fire it off on Veterans Day. Awesome.

[@bernardanderson3758]

This is going to bring more people to the Flying Circus in 2025

[@johnfair62]

AWESOME! BEAUTIFUL! Were on earth did you find a LeRhone? Thats like finding unatainium!

[@RTD1947]

Excellent Guys…doesn’t get much better…good luck on the maiden.

[@timandrew1091]

Love to sell my 150 and piet, for one... but w/ a simple engine... love these..

[@jdoniach]

The originals had 110 hp Oberursels, licensed copies of the 110 hp Le Rhône 9J. How will the performance suffer by having only 80 hp?

[@adking7091]

@@jdoniach There would be a noticable difference, but the 80 is still a large displacement engine and it will be a high performance airplane.

[@jkorshak]

It's my understanding the Richthofen DrI,152/17, on display in the Zeughaus in Berlin was a casualty of Allied bombing.

[@stevenrichards8880]

Congratulations on your success and "pay off" of hard work and dedication. Stay safe, have fun.

[@ralphjohnson4041]

It would be good to know the story of the engine.

[@Muotaman9958]

I never see before a Engine runs around the Crankshaft…!!

[@mmascitti]

Bravo! 👏

[@jeffro-p1c]

amazing!

[@swtmol]

When is the maiden flight please..,

[@richardbrowne3641]

How come you guys didn't prime the engine by turning it over 6 times before contacting the egnition switch? It needs oil in the cylinder walls and fuel in the carburator.

[@brianwilcox3478]

Its my understanding Richard that doing that could lead to too much fuel and possibly ,If the engine back fires, a fire. Also you need someone on both sides to choke the air intakes. Its much easier to just prime all cylinders. they generally take right off that way

[@richardbrowne3641]

@brianwilcox3478 I thought all radial and rotory engines were the same on lubrication and priming engines. I don't know much about an 109 year old engine.

[@fighterbomberMiG27]

Hi guys, just make me clear, is it really 1918 year airplane? Not replica? If so, my big like and Sub for your dedication, really enjoyed your so friendly conversation and sense of humor. My full respect

[@adking7091]

@@fighterbomberMiG27 Airplane is replica, engine is original

[@fighterbomberMiG27]

@@adking7091 Copy, anyway awesome job

[@bernardanderson3758]

Red Baron air to air combat

[@berndsteinborn2315]

Da war Feind schon weg bevor der Motor ansprang

[@JK-rv9tp]

Amazing. This is going to be an Oshkosh star. Does it have a throttle? I thought early LeRhones were just on-off but later ones could be throttled. A friend who has time on a replica TP told me it flies sort of helicopter like, with neutral stability that requires attention all the time, but also it will point pretty much any direction you want with rudder and amazingly sharp flat turns can be made. Is that right?

[@Slithey7433]

No throttle. At one point you can hear them speak of testing the blip switch.

[@JK-rv9tp]

@@Slithey7433 I thought so, but when it's running it seems like it's at a fast idle, not full power. I think there might be both?

[@JK-rv9tp]

@@Slithey7433 Did a little checking and the late Le Rhones had a sliding throttle plate in the air box that allowed it to be throttled back to fast idle, around 800 rpm. Having no brakes, that was too fast to sit on the ground without rolling, so the blip switch was still needed for ground operation.

[@tommyharper7042]

Hey Andrew! Do you get to do the first flight?

[@adking7091]

@@tommyharper7042 I've got about 40 hours in it with the Lycoming but yes I'll be the one to try out the LeRhone!

[@P51]

WOW