Anouncing a new restoration project

[whake]

Re: Anouncing a new restoration project

What was your criteria for determining that it was necessary to recover your plane? The ceconite on my plane is 17 years old still looks like new and passes all test. I saw a quote that it is a $12,000 job here in the states. I just helped cover a piper J3 and it was very time consumming.

[AndyDuke]

Re: Anouncing a new restoration project

The main criteria was weight. IHs empty weight is around 870 lbs due mainly to the Razorback fabric used, which means that with full fuel and me on board there's only 35 lbs of useful load left.

By recovering with Stits and applying the Harer STC mods to increase the AUW to 1280 lbs I hope to gain around 130 lbs of useful load and end up with an aircraft that will not require a rebuild for 25 years (God willing).

The current fabric has also been on the aircraft for over 30 years so it's time to check the airframe and spars to ensure that everything is OK underneath.

[crispy critter]

Re: Anouncing a new restoration project

Very good reasoning Andy.

[AndyDuke]

New Restoration Blog

For anyone that is interested in following the restoration of Taylorcraft G-BRIH (NC43762), I have set up a blog to document the restoration. You can find the blog at http://gbrih.blogspot.com/.

I will be updating the blog at least once a week with news and progress on the restoration as it happens. Anyone want to place bets on how often I'll update it during the summer when I'll be flying Rob's other Taylorcraft G-BRPX!

Feel free to leave comments (positive and negative - I've got broad sholders) or email me. I can also provide better quality photographs via http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_duke/ if necessary.

Andy (got two planes and both are grounded!!) Duke

[Robert Lees]

Re: New Restoration Blog

Expect some thread merging when I can remember where the other ones are!

Andy (got two planes and both are grounded!!) Duke

And got two websites too.