brendanw Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 So after a handful of years for me, and too many year to count for Don, we're finally rounding the corner to first flight. Right now we're working on the final bits and pieces to get the bird fully assembled. The engine start and the DAR inspection are right around the corner. Here's a link to some more recent pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/bwoolrich/CozyMarkIVN34YN?authkey=5JvEE4a5o6A I'll be updating the album as we get her buttoned up, start the engine, etc. Very exciting!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdox Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Very nice!!!! I like the paint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Kriley Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 She wants to fly! Lookin' GOOD! Quote Phil Kriley Cozy #1460 Chapter 13 - nose Right wing done - working on right winglet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge 513 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Congratulations and best wishes! :carrot: Quote Self confessed Wingnut. Now think about it...wouldn't you rather LIVE your life, rather than watch someone else's, on Reality T.V.? Get up off that couch!!! =) Progress; Fuselage on all three, with outside and inside nearly complete. 8 inch extended nose. FHC done. Canard finished. ERacer wings done with blended winglets. IO540 starting rebuild. Mounting Spar. Starting strake ribs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macleodm3 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Wow! Very Nice! What kind of external door latch is that? Its very clean, and airtight too! Quote Andrew Anunson I work underground and I play in the sky... no problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerb1971 Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I can only hope that one day mine will be near as beautiful! Excelent work!!!! Have a safe first flight. Quote Rob Wiehl COZY MKIV #1521 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendanw Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Wow! Very Nice! What kind of external door latch is that? Its very clean, and airtight too! We installed the 'Hendricks' latch a while back (Aircraft Spruce $285; http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/doorlatch.php) and have been quite satisfied with it after a few slight modifications. It really is a very clean, fully airtight and effective latch /lock that we expect to get some good life out of. It's one of a few options that allows you to seal the canopy down from the outside while incorporating a key lock. Essentially you can easily hook it right into the plans dog-down mechanism and glass it into the side of the plane. We trimmed the size of the interior handle to not scrape against the inside of the tub and built a threaded adjustment rod to get the throw right, but that was about it for installation really. Also, because aluminum-on-aluminum is quite sticky, we ended up taking the exterior handle hinge and barrel apart and greasing it up. In addition, the parts are machined so tightly that you need to take some 400 grit wet sand paper and burnish all of the mating edges - add a radius to a few of them. The latch works very smoothly now. In the end I built and installed an adjustable stop for the interior side of the handle. Previously it could travel all the way past what I refer to as top-dead-center (TDC) of the dog latch. Building in a stop made the latch travel stop just past the tightest point so that it snaps down into place. Essentially it serves as a primary canopy 'lock down' mechanism. The catch tab will be in place as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendanw Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Very nice!!!! I like the paint! Thanks! Check out my post under 'paint and finish' for the details of the painting experience. We used the much maligned Polyfiber Ranthane paint over the UV Smooth Prime, EP420 epoxy primer and PPG K36 primer with a K201 catalyzer. The EP420 doesnt cover very well, so that's why we employed the readily available (local NAPA Auto Part store) PPG K36 / K201. I should say that before we shot the paint on, we contacted Polyfiber and asked some questions about the gallons of paint, catalyzer, etc that we had sitting on the shelf for a couple of years. They wasted no time in saying "throw that stuff out" and then sent us an entire, fresh paint system package at no charge. Probably due to all the grief they got from the Cozy folks in years past. In the end, I as a complete painting novice, was able to put together a paint job that's drawn a lot of compliments from both paint novices AND some pros. I did get a couple of runs, but they sanded out nicely and all is well now. Good luck with your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendanw Posted February 25, 2008 Author Share Posted February 25, 2008 ENGINE START!!!!! Woohoo, N34YN came to life!!! After a morning of inspecting, checking, verifying and making things up, we finally turned the key on our Cozy yesterday afternoon. The O-360 turned over nicely a handful of times, then she choked and sputtered once, then finally drained the battery . A quick run to the auto parts store produced a pair of jumper cables. We turned her over again and she sprung to life and made lots of noise. As my partner Don said "we turned avgas into noise, yipee". In all we started her up 3 times. We had a few issues and have a small list of things to fix and look into. Mostly associated with the Rocky Mountain engine monitor and all the sensors that are hooked up to it (or not hooked up in some cases!). We have to make some adjustments to the throttle, mixture and carb heat linkages too. All are off by some amount - idle too high, full lean wont cut the engine, full carb heat off doesnt close the flapper. All in all it was a good day though. I look forward to getting back over there to tidy up the loose ends and get her taxiing around the tarmac! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Kriley Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 It sure is exciting for those of us still in the early stages of building to hear about success like yours! Gives us all a lift! Keep us posted - I can only imagine how pumped you and your partner must be! Quote Phil Kriley Cozy #1460 Chapter 13 - nose Right wing done - working on right winglet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waiter Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 "we turned avgas into noise, yipee". X A LENT :cool: Waiter Quote F16 performance on a Piper Cub budget LongEZ, 160hp, MT CS Prop, Downdraft cooling, Full retract visit: www.iflyez.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdox Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Congratulations!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killerb1971 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 OUTSTANDING!!!!! I bet that is quite a feeling! We are all looking forward to that day. I hope you have blue skies and calm wind on your first flight!!!! Quote Rob Wiehl COZY MKIV #1521 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neverquit Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Beautiful graphics and color scheme! Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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