Quick Update

I ordered my 8 sheets of foam for pickup at Airventure the other day. That was a spendy proposition but it needed to be done so I feel another step closer to completion. I screwed around in the workshop a little bit yesterday trying to get my table top a little more flat. I don't know if it did any good but I felt better because I at least made an attempt to improve it. I purchase a Rockwell oscillating multitool at Menards this week so I can see how it does on scarfing leading edge ply. I flew 2.4 hours of my nighttime XC requirement last night and 3 take offs and landings. The weather was not very cooperative so I will have to get the remaining time and 7 take offs and landings next week. I had one landing last night that felt beautiful and my last landing of the night was shortened by a litter of foxes crossing the runway right in front of me. I would have hit them if the had chosen to cross 20' closer to the end of the runway. My instructor didn't see them at first so he was wondering why I was trying to stop so quickly.

Canard Spar #18

Just to prove that black holes do belong on airplanes, I give you this picture today!  The spar needs to have holes to relieve pressure differentials in the various bays of the wing.  I used a drill in my previous adventures but it chewed up the plywood so I wanted to try using a soldering iron to make the holes.  It worked very well but I should have done it before varnishing the inside parts of the spar.

I brought the sheets of plywood for the leading edge of the spar to work today to get them cut to size.

Last night was our monthly EAA meeting and I got to say thank you to the gentleman who showed my friend and I his Kitfox in progress 20 years ago in his garage.  He didn't remember me but I told him that it made an impact on me for an adult to share his time with a couple of neighborhood punk kids.  He and his Kitfox are part of the inspiration for this project.  I also might have an opportunity to use a nice heated area for building my wings this winter.

I hope that I run into the gentleman who gave me my first ride in a GA aircraft so I can thank him too.  I believe that my mom has told his wife that I am flying now but I'm not sure if he knows.

I am planning to get some solo XC time on Thursday.  I need 2.6 solo hours, 1.4 of those need to be XC.  I scheduled my nighttime flight for Friday evening and I am pumped about that opportunity!  I need 3 take offs and landings at a towered airport and 3 hours of test prep then I SHOULD be ready for my checkride.  Lots of exciting stuff happening right now.

Number of hours: 1.3
Total hours: 224.6

Canard Spar #17

I put the second coat of varnish on the shear web, canard spar, winglet spars, and rudder spars this morning.  This afternoon I bored out the washers and arms for the canard control arms because I drew them and had them cut for metric tubing but I used 3/4" diameter tube.  I drilled the mounting holes for the nut plates for the drag spar attachments that are affixed to F-3.  I put the final coat of varnish on the parts this evening after dinner.  All in all, it was a productive weekend.

Number of hours: 3.0
Total hours: 223.3

Canard Spar #16

I finally got back into the air today.  I flew for 2.4 hours.  We practiced 1 hour under the hood during which my instructor showed me how to track a VOR, we practiced slow flight and power off stalls in simulated IMC, he had me fly with my eyes closed for about 5 minutes where we started by trying to maintain straight and level flight and then he asked me to make 30 degree turns to new headings, he took the controls and had me close my eyes and then he disoriented me with many maneuvers in different directions and attitudes and then he told me to open my eyes and recover the aircraft using instruments only (we did this 4 times), finally he tested my VOR tracking skills (to and from) and gave me headings and altitudes to fly.  The last couple minutes of hood time had me descending through various altitudes and at 1100' MSL (100' AGL) my instructor told me to look up and land the plane.  We finished the time by practicing short field and soft field take offs and landings.  I learned today that cross winds have a much greater effect when you are slow and draggy; I am starting to figure out that I need to use more rudder correction for a cross wind landing.  I now have 32 hours total time so I am getting very close to my check ride!  (I apologize for the poor grammar in this paragraph)

I bought some paint brushes at The Home Depot yesterday and I put the first coat of varnish on my canard spar parts, rudder spars, and winglet spars.

Number of hours: 1.2
Total hours: 220.3

Shear Web Grain Orientation

In reading ANC-18 ANC-18

And Tony Bingelis articles on the matter Woodwork Basics

It seems that I have unintentionally followed their suggestions for the grain orientation in shear webs.  I am going to proceed because the shear web grain orientation is stronger in a positive G situation when the grain runs outboard low to inboard high.  Who am I to argue with Tony Bingelis and ANC-18?

Canard Spar #15

I trimmed off the excess plywood from the canard spar and then surveyed my work.  To my dismay I realized that I had glued the shear web on upside down.  There goes a ton of labor and money down the drain, arrgh.  This isn't my first mistake on the project but it is one of the most expensive.  This will set me back at least a couple of weeks.  Oh well, I'll put the order in to AS&S tomorrow for the plywood and I hope it arrives quickly.

Number of hours: 1.0
Total hours: 219.1

Canard Spar #14

Tonight was the big night.  I mowed the lawn and then headed to the workshop.  I mixed up the last bit of glue in my bottles which ended up being just enough and then set to work applying the glue to the plywood shear web and the spruce canard spar.  It was enough glue to fill a 12 oz. Dixie cup about 3/4 of the way.  I guess that means about 9 ounces.  I had some trepidation about attempting this glue session solo with T-88 because I knew it would take a long time to sling all of that glue.  It was REALLY close and I will enlist the services of a volunteer for my future large gluing sessions.  All of my friends and relatives that read my blog, this means you.  I have some relaxing days ahead of me while I varnish the inside of the spar.  I plan to varnish some of the other parts that I have set aside at the same time.

Number of hours: 1.5
Total hours: 218.1

Canard Spar #13

I spent some time this morning tracing the canard spar outline onto the shear webs.  I had to pick up 2 more clamps and some wood scraps from Home Depot before I could continue so I drug the family through the store before going to celebrate fathers' day at my parents' house.  I spent some more time tonight in the workshop setting up clamps and blocks for my large gluing session that will attach the spar to the shear web.



Number of hours: 1.5
Total hours: 216.6

Canard Spar #12

I glued the final scarf joint on the canard spar shear web tonight.  Things keep proceeding well.  I did notice from the pictures of the prototype that I made an error when building the fuselage.  The upper longerons are supposed to line up with the outside of Frame #2.  The plans don't show this and the builders' construction photos from other projects have the same mistake that I made.  If the plans are followed in this regard, the lower wing attachment bolts will not be able to be inserted from the front.

Number of hours: 0.5
Total hours: 215.1

Canard Spar #11

I glued another scarf joint last night and another this morning.  My Blogger app decided to quit working, so I have temporarily switched to Blogaway.

Number of hours: 1.0
Total hours: 214.6

Canard Spar #10

I checked the straightness of my plywood masterpiece this morning and it was slightly off.  So tonight I used spacers against my straightedge to keep things in line.  Before gluing the next scarf joint, I cleaned up last night's work.

No pictures tonight because my phone battery went dead.

Number of hours:  0.5
Total hours:  213.6

Canard Spar #9

I bought the book on Google Play called Avions Piel today for about $15 which may seem like a lot for an e-book that is in another language but there are 20 pages dedicated to the Onyx line of planes and 8 pages of pictures including the prototype that was built by M. Gangloff.  I am not very good at French, as previously demonstrated but I can follow most of it.  I typed it out in Word just in case a kind soul will have mercy on me and translate it into English.  I wish the author would translate the whole thing into English as it looks to be an excellent resource.

I cleaned up last night's scarf joint tonight and then glued the second scarf joint that will end up in the middle of the canard spar sheer web.  The grain directions at this joint are perpendicular to each other.

Number of hours:  0.5
Total hours:  213.1

Canard Spar #8

Don't worry, I didn't stop building; spring chores just got in the way.  Tonight it was back to work on the canard spar.  I had to start my evening by extending the straight edge on my work bench by 2 feet.  Then I glued in the remaining 4 vertical support pieces. I had some glue left over so I thought it would be a good idea to glue one of the 6 scarf joints for the plywood shear webs. I ran out of glue 3/4 of the way through so I quickly mixed a second batch and finished the joint. This scarf joint is one of the joints with parallel grain. The spar will have a grain pattern like this:
<\\\\\\\\////////>
when it is finished. That drawing is not to scale ;-p

Number of hours:  1.0
Total hours:  212.6