Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 7:56 pm
There are few things that are slow as building an airplane, or as frustrating. However, it is rewarding as well. Mrs YM has been helping a great deal. She spent 3-4 hours labeling the panel last weekend. It came out great. I really appreciated her attention to detail and my countless suggestions. She even managed to slip in a funny while I was occupied elsewhere.
We had our first inspection since before the fabric was first put on. We have made a couple of additions and a couple of minor changes. The biggest was the addition of safety cables on the landing gear. I "borrowed" the design after a friend certified Producer. It's very simple and will receive the final length once the engine is on and the plane is in "flying" weight. It allows the tire to come out only 4" (from centerline) and still accommodates normal gear travel. We calculate that the prop would still be 9" off the ground in the event of a gear/oleo failure.
We've begun the fabrication of the Kydex interior panels, removed the enormous generator and replaced it with a B&C 30 amp alternator located on the vacuum pump gear pad. That was a 19# savings.
Above all, despite everything done, we received a thumbs up from the IA and zero squawks!
Hanging the engine this weekend with the help of Young Squire. Nothing like having your own personal Atlas to help with the heavy lifting and good company to boot.
The white is a posterboard template we're making for the Kydex panels.
The new alternator. Yes, the firewall had to be modified for clearance.
Safety cables
Gear leg attach point for the cables
Cables attach at the gear leg at the oleo and run across to the aft gear leg attach point. Because I run skis, the bolts will have to be longer (NAS -42) to accommodate both the safety cable and the ski tab. The bolts shown are not the final bolt.
The cables under the belly. They will be zip tied and have chafe protecting when done.
Piper fly wires on the bottom. More robust, no edges to get dings and listed on the original drawings (And TCDS) for the M4
The original tapered upper wires. I don't have SS and they were rusted. Sand blasted, inspected and Ceracoated. Not as sexy but very functional. They will never rust.
LED, nothing better
The Kydex going in.
Soon, very soon!
We had our first inspection since before the fabric was first put on. We have made a couple of additions and a couple of minor changes. The biggest was the addition of safety cables on the landing gear. I "borrowed" the design after a friend certified Producer. It's very simple and will receive the final length once the engine is on and the plane is in "flying" weight. It allows the tire to come out only 4" (from centerline) and still accommodates normal gear travel. We calculate that the prop would still be 9" off the ground in the event of a gear/oleo failure.
We've begun the fabrication of the Kydex interior panels, removed the enormous generator and replaced it with a B&C 30 amp alternator located on the vacuum pump gear pad. That was a 19# savings.
Above all, despite everything done, we received a thumbs up from the IA and zero squawks!
Hanging the engine this weekend with the help of Young Squire. Nothing like having your own personal Atlas to help with the heavy lifting and good company to boot.
The white is a posterboard template we're making for the Kydex panels.
The new alternator. Yes, the firewall had to be modified for clearance.
Safety cables
Gear leg attach point for the cables
Cables attach at the gear leg at the oleo and run across to the aft gear leg attach point. Because I run skis, the bolts will have to be longer (NAS -42) to accommodate both the safety cable and the ski tab. The bolts shown are not the final bolt.
The cables under the belly. They will be zip tied and have chafe protecting when done.
Piper fly wires on the bottom. More robust, no edges to get dings and listed on the original drawings (And TCDS) for the M4
The original tapered upper wires. I don't have SS and they were rusted. Sand blasted, inspected and Ceracoated. Not as sexy but very functional. They will never rust.
LED, nothing better
The Kydex going in.
Soon, very soon!