Flyable Storage
If the aircraft is to be put into flyable storage,
the engine would not be preserved nor the desiccated
plugs installed. The propeller should be rotated by
hand every 7 days. Rotate the engine six revolutions,
stop the propeller at 45 and 90 deg. from the original
position.
Each month, the aircraft should be started and run. It
is preferable to fly the aircraft for thirty (30) minutes as
the Lancair engine compartment is tight and inadequate
cooling may result from a ground run.
PREPARATION FOR SERVICE
Following storage, the aircraft preparations for
flight should include the following. Remove all taped
openings, plugs and control locks. Clean and thorough-
ly inspect the aircraft checking the gear, tires, controls
pitot and static ports. Install a serviced battery. Install
spark plugs and check the oil level. The preservative
oil used for storage should be removed and proper oil
installed. The fuel tanks should be checked for wa-
ter accumulation and purged as required. Following
a short but thorough engine ground check the aircraft
should be flown for 30 minutes maximum and given a
very thorough post flight inspection.
FUEL SERVICING
The Lancair fuel requirements are dependent
on the engine installed. The engine manual should be
checked for the recommended grade. In any case, the
fuel should be clean and water free. The firewall gas-
colator drain should be checked on preflight inspections
for evidence of water and the filter checked for solid
foreign material. It is good practice to leave the tanks
full to minimize the amount of combustible fuel/air
vapor present in the tanks. This also helps minimize the
amount of water vapor in the fuel system.
OIL SYSTEM SERVICING
The oil used should conform to the engine
manufacturer’s recommendation. Since engine oil
consumption is higher during break-in of a new or
overhauled engine, very long flights should be avoided
until it is certain that the sump quantity is sufficient for
the flight duration. The oil level is checked through
the small door on the top side of the engine cowling. A
minimum of 10 quarts should be indicated before every
flight.
Oil Changes
During the initial break-in the engine should
be operated with a
straight mineral oil such as
MIL-C-6529 Type II. The break-in is normally 20 to
25 hours during which time the oil consumption should
stabilize. Following this 25 hours the oil and filter
should be changed and an oil such as MIL-L-22851
Ashless Dispersant Oil installed. If consumption has
not stabilized at the 25 hour point, continue the use of
mineral oil.
The engine oil should be changed at a minimum
of each 50 hours of flight time. More often is recom-
mended. The engine oil should be drained while the
engine is thoroughly warm and with the aircraft in a
level position. The filter should be changed at each oil
change and the element examined for its contents. If
a “spin-on” filter is installed it should be cut open and
the element examined. Sand type material is indicative
of inadequate air filtration and may warrant corrective
action ranging from more frequent changes to the in
-
stallation of an improved filter system. Metallic parti-
