B - 11

This one, not completely ordinary. Again, a thanks goes out to Terry Burch and Bill Jensen for all the help on the plane. Monday night, over to clean wingtips, drilled out and bonded outb'd strobes to wingtips. Will glass them in later. Wednesday, first flight in a Glasair! Chris took me for an introduction to his plane. The pics are here . And other pics are on the sidebar or glasair project pics . Again, thanks Chris.

• Avionics and wiring in work,
• Decision to install autopilot, in work. yes/autopilot, no to seperate dynon panel....not needed.
• New alternator ordered.
• Seat belt brackets? I know I have shoulder brackets. check an old kit by another builder.
• Dorsal Fin - order or make.

Design/build Log 10

I was there for a short time Tues/Wed/Fri evenings. So I did spend a few days this week at the plane cleaning the shop, organizing and reading the glasair books, addendum's, service bulletins and organizing. A step backwards on the horizontal stabilizer tips as there is a new way to build them. It's OK, but have to complete during flight test and fly without the tips per the addendum. Started going through Advisory Circular AC20-27F for Homebuilt Aircraft. Some discussion of flight test starting. This is full time work, but with a passion, all's good!

• Received all switches, panel decision weighed on new glasair panel...may not be too late.
• Ordered intercom knobs, headlight, LED tip forward/aft lights and sockets.
• Instruments sent to avionics shop for functional tests
• rear bulkhead brackets removed. New brackets made at correct angles.
• note:deviation of wingtip lenses, non-structural modern look.

Next:

• Wingtip outbd strobes in place, bond bracket & make tightfit cutout at planned location.
• Find instructions to instl completed rudder on push rod.
• Aft wingtip lens bonded.
• Oil tube clearance to engine mount plan.
• Aileron removal, balance, cap ends final. Flap, cap outbd ends & check controls.

Needed:

• flight test plan started
• research regarding saved N-numberN71SN, contact FAA
• EAA review planned - never too early
• Some brake line research regarding new brake lines. Decision btw aluminum or SS braided lines.
• Still need decision btw aluminum and new composite prop for O-320 engine, fixed pitch.
• Door latch idea's.

Some pictures on the link to the right (camera broke, new one coming)

Blog 8 & 9

Info from Sunday and today (Tuesday), glad to drive to Arlington airport for a few hours of work. Bill is already working on the plane, and Terry doing an anual inspection on Dan's supercub.

• Hung the Lycoming O-320 engine on the fuselage. This will allow for check on lengths of cables for instrument panel.
• Discussed and decided on forward and aft facing wingtip lights. Completed cutouts for wingtips & lenses & fit checks. Steve will help with light design. Most likely special automotive lights.
• Bill and I worked re-fit of rudder, cleared interference on rudder travel, cleared for tailwheel cable, bondo'd control surfaces.
• Cleared aileron counterweight, more wingtip lens work.
• Removed rudder pedal & brackets from master cylinder for pattern. Cut passenger side pedals. Fabricated (4) brackets, drilled and installed for hydrolic brakes...ready for hydraulic brakes to arrive.
• Received new Steinair Vents for instrument panel.

Blog 7

Good day today:

• Caps on many control surfaces started.
• Bracket & prep for rear bulkhead. 
• More parts in and prep for instrument panel cutouts/powder coat.
• aileron/flap installation for fit check, gap checks, control checks.
• wingtip light plan started, and design pinpoint, design review.
• engine prep for mounting.
• right side brake pedal cut for mounting.

Good soup competition in neighbor's hangar, than home.

B-Log 6

Friday, 11/18/2011; Flew up after work. Worked on:

• small fiberglass layups for stabilizer capping and other parts.
• removed seat pans for inspection,
• tested strobe light system
• marked and reviewed instrument panel
• countersunk holes on rudder hinges
  Flew home, some snow. Steve joined me, flight of two. see photos on link.

Log 5

I haven't mentioned in the blog N71SN. The N number is 71SN (Sierra November). This will be my registered number. Some pictures added, check picture link over there------>

Corrected Hinges on trailing edge of horiz stabilizer. Removed rivets, moved hinges to elevator with correct fasteners, bucked new rivets. Prepped for capping elevator, horiz stab, vert stab, reviewed lights. Decision to go with dark, powder coated instrument panel.

Ordered (2) 1 1/4" vents, Garmin transponder.


Reviewed designs of these fuses & switches:
1, 2 , 3 , I like the protector guards on these switches 4 .

To order soon:

• cigar lighter (two if possible) - steinair
• plug for usb if possible
  
• plugs for anything else..
• instrument lights - expensive so just go w/ overhead, but decision soon, LED's best.
• warnings lights
• Headlight (LED), (tail light in box), nav lights (I think we need, and wiring), have strobes.
  
• I may have master switch
• alternator
• HP gascolator (took the old one off)
• right side brake cylinders.

To do:

• glass in mount for right side brakes
• glass in empanage bulkhead support
• glass in horiz & vert caps & tips
• wingtip nutplates, lights, light cover, wiring.

Log 4

After work, flew the 150 from Paine Field to Arlington to discuss glasair:

• Worked more detailed plans with Terry, plans to clean a shelf to organize parts again.
• Decision to add brakes to right side (already have pedals)

A beautiful flight home in the cold (33 F) dark night. Some clouds reflecting off the population lights.