Spodman

If you are just trying it out for fit try a mock-up like mine, following the link below. You will have to plan ahead because you are not building to plans. For instance, the bottom of the fus is not flat! I just used 10mm & 19mm chipboard, the result is as heavy as a tank but I can guage much better how I will fit in the standard aircraft. I wanted to place the upper longerons & bulkheads in the standard locations, and compare them to the common(?) mods. Rather than spring for a canopy and then decide I wanted a narrower or wider one I just propped up templates of the turtleback/canopy and looked at the pictures. To figure how it would feel to actually have my head in such a position I measured the clearance and tried it out in my car! Complete WOFTAM to use plans materials for this, if your task is the same as mine.

OK, I'll build it different At least now I can pretend I'm experimenting on nose designs when peeling spuds in the kitchen... I hope Drew Chaplin is getting excited about your machine, started in Melbourne and finished in the US, that is what he is aiming at:)

Thanks Wayne, I'm encouraged to do likewise and dispense with the Urethane. Can I cadge some more hints on the techniques you used to create your beautiful machine? It is sorta on topic because we are dealing with materials in Oz... Can I ask how you actually hot-wired the nose? My attachment indicates how I think that would work, unless you have some sort of 3-dimensional template? Or did you carve it up with a little wire-saw like peeling a potato until it looked right? How did you create the foam frame around the forward part and sides of the canopy?

The hidden bellhorns, as planned by Mr. Rutan, are only good AFAIK for the Cozy or the Long-ez with the 'high-performance' rudders. And those rudders are not for the Vari either. Still doesn't mean somebody hasn't done it though!

Had a bit of a setback last week. Tried to pin down SWMBO about how to define when the extension to the lounge room is finished, as I still have some painting & exterior work to do and the weather isn't helping. Apparantly it includes a kitchen.... My plan is to make F28 first anyhow, smaller bit to throw away than the seatback I reckon, assuming I bollix it up. I hadn't thought of Styrofoam for the nose, sounds reasonable. That would leave Urethane (that stays in the airframe) on the leading edges of the strakes (where styrofoam would not be a good idea) around the forward edge of the canopy/fuselage top and the canard cover and landing gear cover. How much harder would the PVC be to work in those situations?

Thanks guys, exactly what I was after.

Spending a bit of time looking at the plans, the mailing list FAQ and organising the bags of notes I have made. I see when you make the upper firewall in Ch 4 it has the 'cosmetic pieces' extending out over the upper longerons in place, yet when taping the turtleback to the firewall they obviously have to be off. I can't seem to figure out when this happens. Can anybody please tell me: When does the upper firewall get installed onto the fuselage? When do the 'cosmetic pieces' get cut off the upper firewall?

Hello Wayne, was yours the excellent Long I saw at Cowra last year at the SAAA do? Can you or anybody else indicate where Interglas cloth can be procured? I can't find it anywhere outside the Fatherland...

Have found a reasonable source of Divinycell, with a branch in QLD, main office in NSW. http://www.nupol.com.au/branches look under Products/Cores. For example they will sell me a 1220 x 2440 sheet of 10mm H45 PVC for AUD109.74, compared to AUD30.90 from ASS for a third of a sheet (3/8 x 32 x 48"). This means I'll spend AUD658 for all the 10mm H45 I need for a Cozy, compared to AUD556 from Aircraft Spruce. Delivery for an order is AUD60 to the VIC distributor, for any package under 300mm thick, free if more! This compares most favourably to Drew's experience of the cost of importing this stuff direct from the US. To help reach the 300mm I intend to substitute PVC for Last-a-Foam, which Nat approves of and is now cheaper through Nupol. I'll also substitute PVC for the NACA duct Urethane, sold by Drew's video on the issue, that'll cost a little more. They also have Urethane foam, but I mentioned the word "aircraft" so he didn't want to discuss it. Oops, (thinks: next time don't ring after the night shift and have a cover story ready - I couldn't think of anything on the spot...) I might try again when I'm ready to order, saying I need it for making male molds & cowling lips, etc. but I need it for the nose also... On the other hand they are completely cool with selling the Divinycel for making an aircraft! Dow have a local branch dealing in Styrofoam pipe insulation billets, check out www.dow.com for a QLD branch. I gather floatation billets are easier to get without mentioning the magic word above. I haven't tried yet, haven't thought out the cover story yet, any ideas anybody? These things are really bulky and would be great to trim out of my ASS order. I don't want to substitute anything, though heaps of others have used the FB that I don't want to. The only foam I intend to get from ASS is the one-off stuff where I only need a part of a sheet, like the H100 PVC for the elevator hinge points, and the seatback, (though if Drew still has his spare I'll make a firm offer of $60 for it, and take it next plane day!)

Marvellous report Dave, sorry the AD guys didn't look after you!

Too right mate, belardy oath... Are you trying to subtly tell Drew to include subtitles next time??? Very interesting thanks mate, (and Chasing Mars). I am getting together my order at the moment, and have found a reasonable local source of Divinycell so am actively considering your method, and substituting the PVC. Guess I'll still need the urethane for the spar and nose.

When you say 'complete but not painted' what stage of the finishing process are they at. Would it be possible to put the antenna over the current finish, put a tape over it and then re-fill, (unless you haven't yet)?

I spend a fair bit of time dreaming about the elevators myself...

And there is this one: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Henschel_Hs_132_wiki.jpg All of these things are tactical aircraft where the horrible comfort factor is balanced off against increased resistance to G and the pilot able to see to land - and he can get out after a mission of an hour or so and see if he can still walk. Even then I'd hate to be flying this thing wondering if there was some hotshot in a Mustang behind me... Don't see any advantages for a touring aircraft, other than nobody wanting to go flying with me if I wanted some serenity...

I don't think it is supposed to represent any particular Queen, just our beaut gay & lezzo friends in general... My aim is to start exactly 1 year behind Drew and then try and catch him. I'm never in front of the pack, I tag from behind.

As I understand it the wood is there at least partly as a core material that won't be squashed when you put a bolt through it for mounting latches/hinges/seat belts/the step. I am sure there would be heavier alternatives, not sure why you would want this...

Fresh from slapping epoxy around Drew's workshop I see this Oz opportunity Plans - can't read the number but it looks like 4 digits: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320261047118#ebayphotohosting moulded sump blisters (look like a woftam) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320261047118#ebayphotohosting moulded map pocket (definite woftam) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320261052413 Nosewheel strut & fairings - tempted on this one http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320261084808 Moulded nose bowl & other strange looking crap http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320261089778

Erm, no, first arose in the Vari.

Erm, that's actually what I look like completely straight, but at about midday after a night shift. No sleep since 2100 the night before... I had another night to follow, think of that when you book a flight on the red-eye:eek: (p.s. Probably what I would look like on Sunday Drew...)

Concerned me too, especially when I didn't fit very well into the first Cozy I saw. I made a chipboard mockup in my shed to investigate, check out the results in the link in my signature. Attached is me in a headset, with the Texas canopy mounted 1.75" high. I'm 6'4" and will be building it light and standard.

I'm sure the rules will be different there, mainly because they are particularly weird here because they haven't caught up with some recent airspace reform. Outside the East Coast High DeNsity Area (ECHIDNA - An acronym found in no manual but I reckon it is neat) and the area around capital cities we have E airspace between FL180 & FL245 and A airspace above that. Inside the area above we have C airspace between FL125 & FL180 and A airspace above that. VFR can do what they like in E airspace of course, but a local regulation says they can't fly above FL200 without approval from the regulator CASA (Committee Against Safe Aviation - or something like that). If you seek such approval they will approve you if you have an IFR capable altimeter for flight in E airspace. If you want to enter A they will impose additional restrictions, such as in this: http://casa.gov.au/rules/miscinst/2005/casa289.pdf This is for a meet as described by Waiter, and is used in my sector, the record in my airspace being 27,934ft! I have handled a couple of one-off requests, one for a hot air balloon, and CASA negotiates with us and will create an individual instrument. It is most unlikely your regulator has such an anachronistic rule, and it is not likely to be a factor there. I have discussed access to Class A airspace by VFR in the US with their ATC and have been assured they can issue a 'waiver', which I imagine works like the above, but only involves operational FAA people, not the regulation side of things. The criteria for approving such requests is only effect on separation, under the guidance of ICAO ANSP are required to provide positive separation in A airspace, even to and between VFR! A VFR without a transponder going anywhere IFR aircraft do would be told to buggar off. Whether your ANSP will contemplate a clearance or not would entirely depend on the liver condition of those you talk to. First step (having absorbed this background) is to telephone your local ATC centre and get their views. If they issue a waiver you are organised. If they are keen but don't have the authority you will have to contact your regulator and obtain it. I actually work with a nice SA couple and asked them about this, and they had no idea, but they were both on approach. Interestingly, neither had heard of the concept of homebuilt aircraft!

I've heard a Dragonfly spring will fit, and I've also heard Dragonfly builders make their own. I note one for sale on this forum a while ago, might be worth asking: http://www.canardzone.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2275 Might even be a better idea to burn the Q200 and build the Dragonfly...

Step #1. What are you building?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Aircraft__AIRPLANE-EXPERIMENTAL-COMPOSITE-PUSHER_W0QQitemZ320256451935QQadnZAircraftQQadiZ2829QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320256451935& and again!

Hello Geomick, we are neighbors. It may interest you to hear the distributor for MGS Epoxy is in Riddells Creek, but he won't sell direct! I have the plans for a Cozy IV, and a mockup of the cabin in my shed at the moment if you are interested, and some other materials you could see. Drop me a PM if you want to link up sometime.