From the Maplewoods workshop: Steve's RV7 project: March 2011

The Mission:

I am building an airplane. I really can't tell you how weird it sounds to me to hear those words in my head as I type. I am keeping this blog as an adjunct to my written log, which is required to comply with FAA requirements for Experimental Aircraft construction. My son Doug is my partner in this project. There are two goals: to build the best, safest, and yes, COOLEST, airplane we can, and to allow Doug to acquire some truly awesome experiences, not to mention building skills. Thanks for viewing.

How to use this blog

The most current post is displayed on this opening page. To access the older posts, click on the "Blog Archive" on the right hand side. The drop down menu is arranged by the month and lists the posts, by title and by date posted, in reverse chronological order.

I will arrange the hypertext links to other websites I find interesting better some day, but they are at the bottom.

If you navigate to my first post, there is a link to my luthiery pages. I miss working with wood. Aluminum is nice, but it's boring. Give me a highly figured maple any day!

Monday, March 21, 2011

I didn't get out to the garage this past week, because I had the good fortune to attend the week-long builder's course at SunRiver, Oregon given by Wally Anderson of Synergy Air. It was intense. Long days and LOT's of info, as well as the chance to interact with a group of other builders exchanging the "tribal knowledge" of their experiences. As far as I am concerned, you can re-invent the wheel, or you can do it right. This course teaches you how to do it right.

Our "classroom" at SunRiver, in central Oregon

Learning tricks for fiberglassing the canopy to fuse intersection

The final product (several steps from this) looked SMOOOTH

Wiring and terminal assembly tips from the master: Wally Anderson

The guest speaker: avionics with Gary Wirrell of Aerotronics

and a rough draft of my panel to be.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Right aileron

We've been working on a lot of little tasks: installing the wing tip nav lights, fitting the wing tips to the wings, wiring, and finishing the tank sealant on the right tank, with all of the attendant tasks that go in to finishing a fuel tank. We are ready to start riveting the skins on the right wing, but Doug and I decided to get the right flap and aileron done. A few shots of Doug riveting the right aileron.

Next week I go to the Synergy Air's: "Quick Building the Quick Build" course. When I get back its time to finish the fuselage!

Doug with the "main squeeze"

Finishing riveting the right aileron