JTest

G'day Chris My wife's family lives about 1K from the end of the runway at Cowra. I am sure we will get a call from Brian & Gail about the fly-in. I think this is the second year. We will just miss you, we will return to the states the end of Aug. The youngies have school starting. Enjoy the Cowra wines and I look forward to the picies. Thanks; Jeff

G'day I screwed up and used Urethane (per plans) but wouldn't do it again. The stuff is a mess and it breaks way to easy. The point that it is the back of the fuel cell is important to remember. I would use the same foam material as the fuselage sides (also part of the fuel cell). It costs a little more, but it will hold up better. I didn't know this until I had already completed most of the spar. I am now done so... it is per plans, but this issue has been discussed in several CPs and Central States articles I have read.... I have lost my tech advisor to a move and I am building w/o an advisor.... So I am lerning by doing and re-doing in some cases. You can check out my ideas in my posts last couple of months. You will need about 80 hours to complete the spar up to mount from my experience. Mine took about 100 because I tried to remove the foam from the jig and it broke up due to micro sticking. Lesson is not to remove it until the plans tell you.... Hope this helps. Jeff

G'day I checked you Web site and see you have not built the headrests. They are easy and will only take a weekend or so. They also can have the seatbelt hardware installed and shipped. If you don't do the spar that is.... Jeff

G'day all I was looking in my plans and couldn't find a GREAT article I downloaded on the cutting and fitting of composite hatches. I must have misplaced it along with my memory.... If any of you know the link, would you be so kind as to send it to me so I may download it again. Thanks in advance! Jeff

G'day Chris Your comments about Sydney and VFR flight restirctions remind me of a few times I have got cleared into spaces usually ATC doesn't give approval to due to traffic. In the States flights over the Grand Canyon are restricted below 14500 ft; but I have called ATC and asked to fly the south rim at 1000. I told them I had family from Oz in the plane and they cleared me to fly 1000 ft on the 270 radial of the Grand Canyon VOR. We never crossed over the rim but it was a great view for 100 miles.... ATC cleared us down the Vegas Strip 10 minutes after the fireworks at 1000 ft. The controller warned me to stay west of the strip as not to hit the space needle. We actually looked up at the folks eating dinner. I have discovered if you tell ATC you have visiters from the other side of the pond then the controllers usually will assist the make the flight special. Sounds like a great trip you had. If you flew over Cowra or Bathurst you flew over my family and friends. Take care. Jeff

G'day I agree with TMann on this one. If you get half done you will be finished with the jig. I recommend you buy extra UNI (I got 100 ft) and DO NOT use Urithane foam, finish the Spar, but DO NOT mount it until you have mounted the wings on the spar ( I have been told it makes it easier to get the wing(s) level and correct). You then mount to the tub and have one level part to attach although it is a bigger part, but it removes the problem of one wing level and one wing not.... Good luck! Jeff

'Fair dinkum' arrive Canberra on 10 Aug. return to the States 29 Aug. My wife, two littlies and I will be spending a few weeks with the relies... I may get to visit some ol friends and tip a few VBs... Jeff

G'day Looks great! I have not cut the speed break door from my tub yet. It will have to wait until I return from OZ in September. Any pointers you could send would be very helpful. This weekend I move hangers and will have everything packed, but early September I will be building again with any luck. Keep building, looks great. Jeff

G'day TMann How are you treating with alodine? I looked into the process, but it looked like several large tubs of chemicals for only a few parts. I welcome your solution if it is different. I did the last end BID 45 degree lay-up on my Open-EZ project, Thursday. I will trim the 2 1/4" access hole later today and will put the spar to the side. I have a hanger move in the next couple of weeks and need to pack everything.... I have lots of parts that need to be stuck together when I get back from OZ in September. I won't get much more done until then... Thanks Jeff Thanks

G'day If I had to do mine again I would not use the Urithane foam! Use 1" foam that was used on the fuselage. I have been reading old changes/mods and many folks have said the Urithane foam delaminates and is a pain.... Oh, don't miss the templates for the spar Uni lay-ups (page A-11) for Open EZ and Long EZ drawings. Figure around 70 hours to complete... It took me about 80 hours and I still have another 10 or so to finish the last lay-up and cut the center section out. Feel free to ask me any questions. I may have already learned the answer, but then again maybe not.... Jeff

G'day I have been working on my spar for almost 7 weeks now. I hope to have it finished this week. I only have the end cap lay-ups and the cuttting of the opening for the centar section left. Be sure to cover the jig with plastic wrap! I only used Duct tape on mine and the micro had bonded with the jig.... As TMann said do over. Yeah, I had to recut and redo the whole thing.... Now that it is almost done it looks pretty good. I used the BID lay-ups until lay-up 8 and then used the two layers of UNI for the front. Jeff

G'day all and Happy July 4 I had a few hours away from the family today. I had to cut the grass at the hanger so I also did a little Chapter 14 layup (#7). I have attached the LWA3 and LWA2 parts with flox per plans and then put the three layers of 3" UNI glass and one layer of 5" BID at 45 degrees. See pictures below. Hope everybody has a safe and enjoyable 4th. I have to cook some Snags on the Barby. Jeff

G'day I just got my latest issue Central States (July 08); it has an article for the install on the back of the pilot seat and up the headrest. You may wish to check it out. Good luck; Jeff

G'day I did get a couple of pictures. I have posted..... Jeff

G'day Chapter 14 layup number 6. I used the three layers of BID not the mod for four layers of Uni. I read many postings of people that had problems with the spar being to thick. I can't see how four layers of Uni would be thinner than three layers of BID. I understand the spar will be another 4 to 5 lbs heavy becasue of the BID. Here are the pics. Still working..... Jeff

G'day Week four was spent sanding bondo and smoothing everything.... another 6 hours or so. No picutres of this week. Jeff

G'day Now the picture of the Uni-layup in the spar.... Jeff

G'day Weekend number three, I didn't get pictures of the shearweb (sorry). I did get a couple of the thick uni for the back of the top & bottom of the spar. Jeff

G'day Here is the second of five weekends building the spar (Chapter 14). If you look close you will see the template and the sanding block.

Chapter 14 A month of Spar.... I have attached some pics. If you are inclined to provide constructive feedback you are welcome to comment. If you send pictures it is helpful. I lost my technical advisor do to a move last month. I am building on my own. First pictures are of early spar build. Jeff

G'day My bad. Please excuse... Jeff

G'day My arrival will be after the Cozy dinner on Thursday. I have to work to pay for my families and my habits. I was wondering if there was any interest later to get together again? Jeff

G'day I will have a rental car and will arrive Thursday evening. I plan to go to the Friday Lt. Dan concert, but I could be talked into making a couple of runs into town for dinner. This is my first time so I am not sure the issues with getting the car out of the parking. If somebody has any ideas, post them up. It would be great to get together and tell stories, make stories.... Gotta run, I have tickets to ZZ Top tonight...... She's got legs and she knows how to use them. Yeh! Jeff

G'day I just finished booking flights and rental car to arrive late July 31. I am sure many others will be there. I am building an Open EZ. Who else is going? I will be setting up camp on Thursday night and leaving on Monday. Hope to see some of you. Jeff

G'day I saw this 49 sec. video on the EAA AirVenture site. http://www.eaa.org/video/airventure.html?videoId=1505985627 Looks like a dynamic takeoff. Enjoy Jeff