Flap actuator, elevator bell crank, tank attach bracket and more...

I have been busier doing than photographing, but here are a few of the recently completed tasks.  Unfortunately, I have entered the phase of building where an awful lot of work done doesn't translate to obvious progress, at least as far as a photo blog goes.  Trust me, there is a lot of effort in each one of these pictures.  Tomorrow I'll finish the right wing fuel tank attach bracket, then start on the rudder pedals inside the fuse.

Left wing fuel tank attach bracket

Elevator bell crank (not hooked up yet)

flap actuator weldment

The electric motor and actuator rod for the flaps

A tail dragger's gotta have a tailwheel

Rudder stop- port side (needs riveting on to the fuse)

Attaching the elevator push rod to the elevator yokes

Flaps, seats and rudder

Doug finished at St. Paul elementary school.  Now on to high school next year at Marist.  It was a nicely done graduation ceremony; and Doug looked killer in his suit.

Last day of elementary school!!

Receiving diploma from Fr. Steve and Principal Kelli Braud

On to the plane.
Doug is away now on a summer vacation (to London!) with Mom, visiting his older brother who goes to University in Scotland.  Since there isn't any family left here, I'm on my own for three weeks.  Unfortunately, they took the camera I was getting used to, but I had a backup, and I finally remembered to bring it to the hangar, so I have documented several work sessions here.  I finished the seat backs, started the center console, installed the flap hinges and flaps, and hung the rudder.  The wing tip fairings took a while; I used nutplates and screws to attach, and there were nearly eighty of them in total.
Next up, either the elevator bellcrank assembly, or the flap actuator mechanism (or the fuel vent lines, or the rudder pedals, or...)

Wing tip fairings are on (and the LEDs work)

The rudder is on!

Making the rudder stops

Seat back stops for adjusting degree of recline

Seat backs

And, for fun, started work on the center console

The Original RV

I took these photos at Creswell airport where Doug is taking flying lessons. 

The original RV:  "RV-1"  As far as I know, there is only one.  Production started with the RV-3





Photo taken for a school publication. Doug in 63M

Horizontal and vertical stabilizers are on

Doug on the grinding wheel, finishing a seat back reinforcement

Vertical stabilizer, mounted but not yet bolted

View from aft and port side

Right wing showing flap and aileron

Another view of the empennage

Doug and I worked on the horizontal stabilizer and got it to mount very true and square (we were within 1/8th inch of perfect symmetry wing tip to firewall comparing right and left horizontal stabs).  We then mounted the vertical stabilizer, and it looks pretty good too.  We didn't get the bolts on the vertical yet.  That will have to wait until tomorrow.  Progress is good on the seat backs, the bell crank for the elevator and sundry other sub assemblies.  We are entering the "it never ends" part of the build