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July 2010
First Engine Run - It Works!

IT WORKS! After priming and oiling the DH Gipsy Major engine on the front of the 'Biggles Biplane' burst into life on the very first swing of the propeller!

The engine, which last turned under its own power in 1977, has been fully stripped, crack-tested and rebuilt with new cylinder barrels and pistons.

The list of those we need to thank is too long to place here. But rest assured, subsequent to a successful test programme, we will have a very big round of beers to buy in The Aviator bar at Sywell!

The hawk-eyed among you will no doubt have noticed that the aeroplane still lacks its fuselage fabric....and wings, which have been removed to ease storage.

The final fabric work and wing rigging will be completed after the majority of ground running has been done. That is normal procedure as it makes it easier to access the controls, fuel system etc., during the testing.

There is another reason too. We don't want to get our pristine fabric dirty!