dust

Nat has ok'd a number of changes for me and others, but if they make a flying or structural change, he probably won't. But if he won't ok the change then think doubly hard about it and just don't call the plane a cozy, call it a marblez or whatever. You do notice that he never called the plane a long ez wide etc. Once the plane flew and flew well, who did burt sign a royalty agreement with, nat puffer, who has never missed the payment, even when burt refused them at beech's request! I read the accident reports constantly. Every year it is the same Knowingly flying from good to bad weather Hot dogging it(100 mph 10 ft over desert/lake etc) Fuel starvation A parachute requires a huge amount of structural engineering and testing on any airframe, let alone a high performance one. Trying to deploy at 200+ mph creates quite a force. The sr series has had a number of accidents and only once has the parachute been deployed, looks like it was after faulty work on aileron. Enjoy Mike

Well a few months ago jeff was going out of business, now he is not. I don't know how many aerocanards are flying, jeff told kitplanes 8 when thier were none. The landing gear jeff made spread over time, the ones nat recommends don't. I could go on, no need. No comparison Mike

too tall?? How tall are you? As for fat, well, the plane is cozy and nat doesn't want unhappy builders that can't fit in plane. I'm 6'3 and was 215 when i flew in cozy. It was not spacious, but was fine, I wouldn't want someone bigger than me in front seat, it would be too tight. As for brs, make sure aileron hinge pins can't come out and fly the plane down. Emergency brake is to not lower nose wheel and grind off hockey puck, I hear the plane stops this way FAST Mike

who said smart level??

i'm weeping, I'm weeping

now wait a minuite, that parachute plane is putting weepers on the leading edges, last time I checked it was composit/plastic airplane and ifin I can figure it out, I will too. Mike

the foam adhesive was not good

As a michigander I would love it!!!! Right now the only thing is a canard control coverplate

hand held or for metal cutting i attach to underside of plywood and use a fence.

you are way ahead of me - we just build 1 day a week for 4 1/2 years now! Make 12 foot t's so that the wing templete snap together - notch the tee and make the wing jig a little and notch to accept the tee - makes wing positioning way, way easier, see my post on chap 19 wing building forms. Also, since you are more experienced, follow the small templet, it's harder to cut slooooooow than regular, it's easy, like cutting butter with a hot wire(as you know from the canards). Mike

thats why we installed and then unbolted and stored the main gear, canard and are waiting to install the main spar until the end, they just get in the way. The point is, I don't think getting to chap 22 or so in a small space is a bad idea and it gets the plane built without having to wait until everything is perfect. 12'x14 is pretty obtainable

I am a tool junkie, I am adicted to them, so I needed no extra tools to build. The point is, very little is required. A jig/saber saw dremel reversable drill motor quarter sheet sander level hammer/screw drivers/torque wrench/files 6' aluminum ruler tape measure square's (speed and carpenters) rotary fabric cutter scissors razor knife hack saw blade small hand saw(dove tail) Sanding blocks I think this about does it, anything this combo couldn't make in the plane? Mike

ok so to start the plane and get to chapter 20 without installing the main spar(that is what we are doing). How little space can it be done in? I would say 12' x 14' what say you Mike

what do you need in a plane building workshop. Well it can be plain for fancy. We are building 2 in a basement and have been doing it for over 4 years, one day a week. The pros are, uniform temperature year round, plenty of room and a workshop that can stay when we are done. The cons, a hole in the family room floor to get the parts out (this is not a walk out) and the need for final assembly and strake building area. Well the hole in the floor is not a big deal, roll back the carpet, cut and frame hole as though you were putting in a stairway, lift parts out, reframe and cover hole up and restretch carpet. I met a guy in scottsdale who is building in his apartment living room, on the second floor, did nice work. When I was there he was through chap 8. His workbench was on his porch outdoors, not a big porch. The parts are not that big, it's a cozy. The Epoxy has no odor(mgs or is it msg) The point is, build. In a basement In a garage in a livingroom In a barn In a hanger In a shed In a bedroom In an attic In a borrowed any of the above. In a rented any of the above. My build sit is an hour drive from my house, we take it every week and enjoy the ride and conversation. Build and don't let anything stop you. When the area you are in is too small, you will find a bigger one, just build. We are on chapter 20, twice and have done everything except install the main spar, for that we will wait until outside. The main gear were fully installed and then removed and stored The canards were installed and then removed and stored Build, Build, Build Mike

probably $100,000 and 5 years

RUI - off a bribe, plane flyiers like them

Well, we are three building two planes and always have at least 6 hands. We also have a variety of helpers and others that come once or come often to plane day. What we have learned is if someone comes to work, it is very efficient and allot of information can be passed along, not just the work that is being done that day. If someone comes to see, it just takes time. With all of the active builders out there, everyone should post where they are and when they build and all of the lookers that are full of apprehension about building should go work on planes. Extra hands are always great. Mike

we give a class every Saturday, includes lunch, cost "0.00", come dressed to work NE of Detroit, MI Mike

Sounds like the normal condition of parts, just continue as usual. One think is for sure, NO SOLVENTS! (solvents and foam don't get along. All of our parts get dusty, the top firewall has been under the bench for years, we will use it soon as we will start turtledeck, ( for use that's 3 or so months! Mike

don't forget to extend the timeframe of threads to show - setting it to "since the beginning" will open up more info for new members and guests Mike

I would start the fuselodge over, it's no longer perfect. Why not just put it in the main wing? Mike

we did layups on wax paper on the bench for a long time until our tech advisor frowned. He just didn't like the idea of possible wax contamination. We also didn't like the way the wax paper sort of disolves if left too long. We bought a roll of butcher freezer wrap. No wax, a very thin plastic coating on one side, cuts like paper. 18" wide, 1100 feet or yards per roll (can't remember which) $35. It's great for layups, templates, patterns etc. If you make a mistake and use it plastic side down instead of up, it still works fine, just takes a little more epoxy to wet out, of course we tested this out on purpose. When making tapes, you can prefold the centerline to make it easier to place. Drawing the layout shape and writing the glass schedule helps at the cutting table and some times putting the weave direction on the paper is not a bad idea. Mike

added a wedge for pocket and sawed a flat opposit for clamping. made a band saw curf 1/2 thickness of aluminum for registration and clamping. tap-tap-tap---piece o cake Mike

messed around last night and made 1 almost perfect, the ears on my first try were uneven. first I tapped a u shape around a 1" piece of maple, then I clumsily clamped the u shape and the 1" internal maple block and two outside maple blocks at 30 degrees in the vice with my 3 hands. I then tapped with a small hammer and bent the ears over. Had I clamped correctly the ears would have been just fine. I then made a hardwood pocket to hold the u bracket for the last two bends. Will try that out tonight. Piece o cake Well maybe Mike

rob - great to meet you, but you don't have the plans yet - anyone with plans?