Author Archives: pclifton

Finished attaching the horizontal stab

Posted on December 9, 2021 by pclifton

No time for a real session tonight but I figured I’d go try to get that last bolt in just for fun. Seems like it often works this way, but this time I got it started in the hole from … Continue reading →

Posted in Empennage, Fuselage | Hours Logged: .5

Changing course and working on the tail

Posted on December 8, 2021 by pclifton

So…after thinking over my next move quite a bit, I’ve decided to change up what I’m working on. Originally my plan had been to try and get the canopy cutting done this fall, before winter set in. The idea there … Continue reading →

Posted in Empennage, Fuselage | Hours Logged: 3

Finishing up canopy frame stuff

Posted on November 29, 2021 by pclifton

Then it was just a matter of getting the rails screwed in place on the fuselage. Next up was the anchor block back behind the rear seat; this was the only remaining component that wasn’t attached to the airplane yet. … Continue reading →

Posted in Canopy | Hours Logged: 3.5

Fitting the side rails and tweaking the canopy frame

Posted on November 28, 2021 by pclifton

The previous photo was actually taken after frame tweaking, which is why the strips are fitting nicely against the fuselage. At first, though, the frame was a bit too wide, and the strips didn’t quite make contact with the fuselage, … Continue reading →

Posted in Canopy | Hours Logged: 5

Attaching the center slide rail

Posted on November 26, 2021 by pclifton

After that, I got the frame installed once again, and tested canopy movement. Strangely, the slide block seems to bind up just a little bit – not enough to prevent movement, but it seems to drag a bit. Something to … Continue reading →

Posted in Canopy | Hours Logged: 2

Canopy slide block do-over

Posted on November 17, 2021 by pclifton

Here’s a better view of the cotter pin from the other side. Initially I’d thought of making the hole large enough for the head of the pin – or at least counterboring it like the clevis pin hole – but … Continue reading →

Posted in Canopy | Hours Logged: 1.5

Firewall planning

Posted on November 10, 2021 by pclifton

Posted in Firewall Forward | Hours Logged: 1.5

Finishing with the engine mount, doing some wire routing

Posted on November 9, 2021 by pclifton

We’ve got a 30-pound kettlebell hanging on the center of the mount, using an S-hook normally reserved for hanging up a caliper while working on the car brakes, plus another 30 pounds of dumbbells lashed together with some spare paracord … Continue reading →

Posted in Electrical, Firewall Forward | Hours Logged: 2

Fitting the engine mount

Posted on November 7, 2021 by pclifton

However, things down here are a bit less simple; the engine mount holes are a good 3/8” or so above the pilot holes in the firewall. I figured this out by putting flashlights inside the fuselage, pointed at the pilot … Continue reading →