Nearly Flying

[Mark Julicher]

NC43306 is within a couple days and some light winds of flying.
Yet to go:
1) Complete 337s for the STCs for skylight, covering, Millennium cylinders, and M020 grind on the crankshaft
2) Hang the doors, install wing bands
3) Last look over everything
4) New Weight and balance
5) Sign off log books.

Due to a special Airworthiness Directive from the Republic of Texas a mandatory placard is installed at each door.

[jdoran]

Re: Nearly Flying

I remember the joke about Texas:

Scientific data was collected from thousands of motorists from all over the US to record the very last words and thoughts that people had milliseconds before a very bad accident.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority thought "Oh S**T

In Texas, however the last words were "Here, hold my beer watch this"!!!

[M Jones]

Re: Nearly Flying

The best placard I've seen yet Mark. Best of luck on the special day!

[mulwyk]

Re: Nearly Flying

Looking good Mark!
That first flight is gonna be a thrill.

[crispy critter]

Re: Nearly Flying

very nice Mark,how does the cowling fit,any problems getting everything lined up?

[DanBrown]

Re: Nearly Flying

Beautiful ship, Mike. Where do the spurs go? Do you need a 337 for the spur holders or is it just a nail in the panel?(;f

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Nearly Flying


Dan, the spurs can go anywhere as long as you don't sit on them.

Kevin, Doc and I spent about a week on the cowling fit-up and it went sort of like this...

We fastened the slip hinge at the firewall and to the nose bowl, then we made a wooden spacer to hold the nose bowl perfectly aligned with the crankshaft. The lower cowl was manufactured oversize, so a lot of fit and trim was needed to make it match the contour line of the nose bowl and boot cowl. We held the lower cowl up with motorcycle straps and man-handled it around until it lined up evenly. We marked the trim lines with a Stabillo brand water soluble pencil. Once trimmed, we took a lot of pains lining up the Dzus fasteners. Since each Dzus fastener grommet adds a small bit of space between the two pieces of sheet metal, it changes the hole location of the next Dzus fastener by a tiny amount each time you install a fastener. I found it was better to mark one hole at a time rather than several at once. The chafe seal will also throw hole location off a hair so install chafe seal ahead of time too. A hole finder made out of a cut-down Dzus fastener makes the job much easier also.
After the six aft Dzus fasteners were in place we marked the locations for the nose bowl to lower cowl fasteners, again one at a time. this was actually easier because neither piece of sheet metal had a pre-existing hole.

I did get a coupe holes less than perfectly centered, but I fixed that by using the plastic retaining grommet rather than the metal thru-grommet on those holes. This allowed about 1/16 inch lateral play in the fastener while still holding the pieces together firmly. Some fasteners I misjudged as to length, so it was helpful to have some 35, 40, and 45 length Dzus fasteners on hand. Various height Dzus springs are useful as well. God bless good bench stock!

The next items fitted were the top cowl doors. Once again fit-trim-fit. When we were happy with all the big pieces, we marked the locations for the doublers and riveted those on. Finally, with the help of some motorcycle straps we held the cowl doors down firmly and fastened on the trunk latches. While working the cowl doors I discovered the engine baffling to be too tall, so there was a small re-work required there too.

[cubby]

Re: Nearly Flying

Mark.,
she looks great your doing a great job

Paul

cubby

[Bravo 6]

Re: Nearly Flying

Looks great Mark!! Keep us posted on the first flight.

[Buell Powell]

Re: Nearly Flying

Very nice Mark!!!!