"GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

[BuckyD]

When Rare Bear crew chief- Dave Cornell first started Race #77's race-prepared Wright R-3350 radial engine, those who were there standing-by that Reno '08 afternoon, well-remember this loud & flashy spectacle ( ) as The Bear came alive!

I shot 3 quick Kodachromes & the middle one luckily snagged it! DBD

[kiwiracefan]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

WOW!!!! Bucky, thats an awesome shot....

[thunderstangfan]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

you must have been standing right in front of me in that shot!
i remember him cranking the canopy closed after the first one

[sierra fox]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Thanks Bucky, more please

[SkyvanDelta]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Did that flame come from the exhaust pipes and is now rising in the air?

Anyone have pictures when it is closer to the exhaust pipes?

[Strega Fan]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

That is one amazing shot, Bucky. Thanks!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Did that flame come from the exhaust pipes and is now rising in the air?

One of the crew or "BearDriver" could answer this a lot better but.. this was during the first start with the new ignition system on... the timing was a bit "off" and she sneezed big time out through the carb..

From what I understand, they put on a spare carb and went back to the "old" ignition system..

W

[Inverted]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

That beautiful monster.....

[Dave65882]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Well she is a bear, so did you expect anything less

Nice picture.

[Mluvara]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Did that flame come from the exhaust pipes and is now rising in the air?

Anyone have pictures when it is closer to the exhaust pipes?

If I recall correctly, they had the induction system disconnected on the airplane during their initial runs, so the intake was simply the carb facing upwards. I'm pretty sure this is a capture of a backfire on startup. If there was an induction system connected on a carbureted engine (my understanding is the bear isn't *truly* carbureted, but fed elsewhere), one faces the likelihood of severely "distorting" he induction piping during a backfire. On a direct injection system, like 232, you don't have this problem.

The exhaust pipes all go out each side of the aircraft.

Michael

[Jeff E]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Wow.. how in the heck do ya get that?/ Nice.. thanks for sharing!

J

[Jan]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

(...)

The exhaust pipes all go out each side of the aircraft.

Michael

And Rare Bear is fully capable of throwing fire out there too ...





... or out of the top and out of the pipes together - even in the dark ...



Really a great Dragon !

[ignomini]

Re: "GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!!!"

Great shots guys! Maybe we should organize an annual Rare Bear tube steak BBQ party.