Steve Davies

Totally agree. That was rather the point I was trying to make, not so much that I'm researching materials, but that in general different airplane materials are being used in new applications. I gets hot headed and sometimes my fingers are faster than my brain.

Chatroom-itis or not, its got my vote. I thought it might be a little more like shaking hands and saying how's the wife and kids kinda thing, Not to mention that it's also useful for bouncing ideas around and getting a quick reaction.

Well here's something I do know a little about... Its a cost versus properties issue. At the company where I work, almost everything is glass laminate. Hulls, decks, chairs... If we started using Kevlar, those 40,000 dollar boats would most likely double at least. Graphite is ok as long as stiffness and weight saving is what you want. Ease of use is also an issue. From what I've seen, E-glass is alot easier to use. Kevlar is hard to cut, needs special shears. E-glass I can cut with Gramma's old tailoring shears. I might maybe consider some ceramic fiber laminate to the inside of the engine compartment, but I havent heard any problems with E-glass in that area, so maybe ceramic is overkill. Of course, keep in mind I build boats right now, not airplanes. When the plane begins, I'll be messing with some structural properties of different laminate fibers. Research continues...

OK I'm missing something.. (MY PLANS) Where are the holes/leaks making this cold cabin air? What about boots, insulation, some way to cver these leaks... Umm OK I think I'll shut my mouth til I have plans in hand and can speak to the issue with out guessing.

I do all my best work in the pressure cooker. The heat's on, 'nuff said.

Dang... I s'pose safest and lightest is gonna be the hotsuit, tho I kind of find the idea of plugging my socks in a little disappointing. Ah well, what can ya do... It'll get figgered out when its time, no rush.

Ayup, it does seem logical that the welds would induce cracks... clamps would be my choice too. Easier to inspect, eh? Hmmm, I'm wondering how high I'll end up flying though... I need to have more data on temps at alt. Completely irrelevant this statement... I'm enjoying the hockey sticks outta this, and I haven'y satrted building yet!

Well fellas, I haven't got any high altitude experience, just spewin' what I thought mighta been cheapest alternative to lotsa extra weight and complication... My ecducation continues, and I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. I've recently learned that heat muffs can hide/cause exhaust cracks -- not very appealing to me. Oil cooler alternative seems excessively heavy and possible oil leak into cockpit is even less appealing. The hair dryer is right out. A wood stove is also out the window. I havent got a solution, but of what i know so far, it seems that the heat muff is best so far... Just have to keep up on inspections. Thumb heaters on snowmobiles work the same way, so I gues thats the simplest and lightest, even witht the danger of the exhuast cracks. ( hi to my buddies up in Timmins, ON)

Wups! Wrong Steve lol

Joe my friend, I'm not htere yet... soon though, very soon! The end of February is my date to order, oh how I wish it could be sooner! The accounting office (aka Beeter Half, aka GIB, aka Best Girl) says can't be done til then at earliest... Ah well, just more time to educate ansd evaluate, no big. Soon, very soon!

Awww, s**t! Now I can't go p**s up a rope, or even hit my @%&*!%$ thumb with a hammer.... Hard to do for this kid from Baltimore, but I'll try.

Jon, as admin of the forum, and as popular as the hot tub is, i think it makes sense to try and add a java chat to the forum... it would help to create an even closer community, and the Q and A sessions would be instant and open.. very stream of consciousness... not to mention MUCH faster than posting... a few of us tried it in yahoo msgr user rooms, but we all agreed that it would be much, much better to keep it in direct connection with the forum. it would be nice for someone new to be able to ask a question, get an immediate reply, and if the information is in the archived forum posts, then the question could be directed to a forum search.. it would in no way replaces the forum, quite the opposite, i think it would greatly enhance it and add to the knowledge... Anyone else interested? OPinions are more than welcome, reply please and lets see if its agreeable to the majority of forum posters to use a chat system... Did i ramble? maybe so, but i think i made the point... im thinking as i type... well its out there ... waddya all think?

I think what happened is that I forgot how many vendors there are, and the fact that it is plans built. Maybe the other vendors out there should be invited to throw in their twonies worth also. Just to level the playing field as far as vendor opinion and this forum go.

Roger. Wilco. Partay in the Bahamas! (In 5 years maybe ) Partay online at any rate lol... O.K. so who do we get hold of to put this Hot Tub online?

No4, it's hard to be the Evil Genius, isn't it? Awww, grab a beer, jump in the hot tub! I'm sure whatever time zone, there'll be plenty of us in the water and enjoyin' the scenery! Hope my wife doesn't see this post!

So... It seems to me if Mr. Puffer were to give sole distributorship to A.S., he'd be selling himself short. While competition would tend to keep prices low, the opposite would tend to sell fewer plans/parts and prices would rise as a result. Not to mention, IMHO, that those affected by higher cost and lack of choice (we the builders) would be alienated and the plane suffers. I'm not saying that Mr. Irwin is in the wrong, he's competing as well as Mr. Wick... I hope both suppliers will be able to continue their valuable service. Did I ride the fence well enough?

Thanks again.. I'll be posting my progress here as I learn to fly and of course construction progress. Its a great feeling to know I'm in good company and also to finally start making the dream happen!

Wouldn't an epoxy roller be easier for wetting out the glass? Put the plastic film on top, then sqeegee for bubbles and smoothness.

Well, why not a chat... I like the idea of the Hot Tub... but wht not go whole hog and start a live chat..hmmm. I'll look into it.. That is, if yaz all think its good for the group.. Would let people like me, not yet started on the build yet committed to the project join the club and feel the love. Either way, live chats or Hot Tub posting, works for me.

Woolen socks and sweater for me... simple, lightweight and removable if it gets too warm. Papa always said, "You can always take it off, but if you don't have it you can't put it on." Sometimes I like old-fashioned solutions. If its too cold, get outta the icebox. lol. Of course I really have to wait til I get to 15,000 feet and see for myself, but to me, KISS priciple is best.

Which is exactly why I'm here... Education. I haven't got a liscense yet, but thats only a matter of time. I will fly, I will make mistakes, but I'll be damned if I'll let poor maintainance ruin me, my family or my plane... If anyone has any of the pilot's testimony, or knows where to find it, lemme know. The investigation could only reveal so much, I'd love to hear what the pilot himself says. Might not be possible tho, if ivestigation is pending.

Maybe because I do fiberglass for a living, (on boats) moldless lay-up doesn't scare me. The way its done in the boat shop of course uses molds, but moldless construction is just the reverse of what i do every day. Because I work with fiberglass, it was a big factor in which plane I wanted to build. Glass is just too easy not to use it for everthing from boats to planes to toolboxes, LOL.

Yes, all businesses will tend toward monopoly... Wick's is trying to compete. I don't see the problem there. I'm sure I'll be dealing with most of the suppliers out there, the best price for quality will win my money. Mr. Puffer has a popular design, and I'm sure the bidding for "authorized dealer" was hot. When the plans and kits and parts stop selling and/or making money, that is when you'll see the partnership dissolve. Besides, one of the selling points of the Co-Z mkIV is that its plans-built. Once Ive got the plans, I can build the plane, parts dealer is MY choice. As for the updates in the newsletter, it is an inconvenience, but not insurmountable... Look at what goes on here - the information exchange, recommendations, a community of builders with tips and tricks and a whole slew of ideas to make things better. I put no blame on businessmen trying to further their business, be he Mr. Irwin or Mr. Wicks. Either one will tell ya, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Compete or die.

Bloody well wish I could... Since I haven't even gotten recreational yet, I don't see it happening. Willing to take payments? Owner financed? Cosider this worthless post number 1. Just had to say something, though... Sweet plane.

I happen to be very lucky as to space to build. I've got a 25x40 foot garage... not to mention 18 acres that im cosidering laying a strip on.