Apr 01, 2021     Airplane complete       Category: Paint / Decals

Upper Valley Aviation in Chilliwack, BC, completed paint scheme. Took 3.5 months to paint.

  Oct 22, 2020     Inspection complete - (4 hours) Category: Interior Finish

Canadian Registration finally arrived. MD-RA inspector, Jim, completed the final inspection. Now waiting for a weather and transition pilot availability.

  Oct 01, 2020     US/Canada Border remains closed       Category: Inspection

As a result of the US/Canada Border closure, with no foreseeable opening in 2020 or even into next year, I've begun the process of registering and inspecting the airplane in Canada. I've had the MD-RA (DAR equivalent in Canada) pre-cover inspection completed, registration forms submitted, new transition pilot training identified and the final inspection is only awaiting Transport Canada's completion of the registration. The airplane is fully assembled, minus wheel fairings, due to recommendations to leave them off until after engine break in. Ground testing has been completed. Only waiting for the registration paperwork so the final MD-RA inspection can be completed.

  Jul 15, 2020     DAT inspection delay Category: Inspection

Canada has extended border closure until 21-Aug-2020. I continue to wait.

  Jun 20, 2020     Waiting for DAR Category: Inspection

Airplane is done.
DAR is not able to cross into Canada since the inspection of an amateur built Expermental airplane is not considered “essential travel”. So I wait.

  May 18, 2020     Fuel Flow testing       Category: Engine

Calibrated RH fuel tank with 78.1 L (20.8 gal) of 100LL in 4 gallon increments. Drained fuel from RH tank into 5 gal containers. Moved fuel to LH tank, 5 gallons at a time. Set AFS LH fuel tank calibrations after each 5 gallons. Filled 20 gallons. Drained 5 gallons to put back in RH tank. Selected LH fuel tank valve. Disconnected fuel line at distribution spider and attached a drain line to a 5 gal container. Ran Aux fuel pump. No joy. Disconnected fuel feed at input of engine driven pump and attached a drain line to a 5 gal container. Ran Aux fuel pump. No joy. Verified wiring to fuel pump is correct. Removed drain line from gas container and applied vacuum until fuel flowed in drain line. Put drain line back into container and ran Aux fuel pump. Fuel flowed into 5 gallon container. Reconnected line to engine driven fuel pump and attached drain line to fuel ling going to fuel spider and into 5 gallon container. Ran Aux fuel pump. Fuel flowed, pushing out red preservative. Moved drain line into 1 quart container. Ran Aux fuel pump for 30 sec. Got 28 oz of fuel. This corresponds to 158 lbs/hr or 156.4% over what is needed.

  May 12, 2020     Oxygen Bottle Installation       Category: Interior Finish

Installed structural provisions for O2 bottle. Fabricated doubler for Flap access panel and installed 4x 1/4"" nut plates. Fabricated angle doubler for upper band clamp brackets to mount on top of Flap access panel. Installed 4x 1/4"" nut plates on this doubler too. installed Flap access panel and used 1/2"" spacers for lower brackets due to 1/2"" offset of upper interior trim panel. Made holes in the lower sidewall carpet and upper trim panel to access nutplates. Installed band clamp brackets with 1/4"" bolts at 8 locations. Bottle fits good and secure.

  May 09, 2020     Classic Aero Interior       Category: Interior Finish

Sportsman Interior installed

  Apr 30, 2020     METAR Map       Category: Workshop

Finished METAR map. Used https://slingtsi.rueker.com/making-a-led-powered-metar-map-for-your-wall/ and https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/31428-aviation-weather-map-led-light-pipe