Oct 12, 2023     Tail Attachment - (4.0 hours)       Category: Workshop

Fit HS to fuselage, then removed it to drill the additional tail deck pieces in place. Need to mix up some primer for touch up.

I made the bushings by chucking the tubing stock in my drill press, and trimming them with a hacksaw. Fine tuned the length with a file, then reduced the diameter a few thousandths. Clamped the bushings in a vise with soft jaws, then drilled through the center, starting with a #12 drill, stepping up 1/64th at a time to 1/4”.

  Oct 11, 2023     Shop Reorganization - (2.3 hours)       Category: Workshop

Moved airframe to center of hangar, along with wing cradles and tail parts, ready for final assembly. Modified my ground power connection to plug into either 12V accessory jack. This circuit is limited by the panel breaker to 7.5 Amps, which will run most of the panel, excluding accessories (fuel pump, pitot heat, lights and other heavy loads).

My power supply also has a 'trailer plug' two-pin connector that can directly connect to the main battery, or a dedicated external power connection for the HDX-1100 EFIS, for charging it's backup battery. This is not strictly necessary, but it replicates what I did on my Harmon Rocket, where it is required.

  Oct 05, 2023     Cleaning - (2 hours) Category: Workshop

Cleaning and organize shop. Getting ready for tail and wing attachment.

  Oct 03, 2023     Crate Demo - (3.0 hours) Category: Workshop

Demolished tail kit shipping crate & loaded into SUV for disposal. Easy to do.
— with top lid removed, I flipped it over and cut the bottom transversally with a circular saw. Pried the two pieces off, then collapsed the frame, which came apart easily. Cut the pieces to fit in my vehicle.

  Sep 30, 2023     Crate Demo - (2.0 hours) Category: Workshop

Loaded crate pieces into SUV and delivered to disposal yard. Demoed some old scrap pallets.

  Sep 29, 2023     Crate Demo - (2.5 hours)       Category: Workshop

Demolished the long shipping crate and cut the pieces up for disposal. Now that my new hangar is ready, I moved my Rocket to it to make more space for the S-21 construction. Demolishing the crates helps!

Photo is my new hangar, with my old airplane. Not ready to move the S-21 yet.

  Nov 19, 2022     Cleanup - (3 hours) Category: Workshop

Cleaned up and moved left wing from rack onto work tables.

Received parts from Rans, so have some more things to work on while waiting for engine.

  Oct 19, 2022     Cleanup Time! - (2 hours)       Category: Workshop

Cleaning and reorganizing shop... much more effort is required. Since my new hangar is not complete, I have limited space to attach the flying surfaces. Electronics lab needs organizing as well.

  Oct 13, 2021     Cleanup - (3 hours) Category: Workshop

Massive cleanup and floor sweeping. Even sorted my drill bits!

  Apr 03, 2021     Cleanup - (5 hours) Category: Workshop

Cleaning and organizing in preparation for first inspection from the MD-RA.

  Jan 28, 2021     Inventory - (3.7 hours) Category: Workshop

Parts inventory for FWF and Finishing kits.

  Jan 27, 2021     Inventory - (3 hours) Category: Workshop

Unpacking and inventory of finishing and firewall forward kits.

  Oct 18, 2020     Cleaning shop and moving workbenches - (2.5 hours) Category: Workshop

Cleaned shop and reconfigured my workbenches end to end to get a 15' bench length for fuselage work. Levelled then up then screwed them with 1x3 joiners to stabilize.

  Sep 30, 2020     Cleaning - (1 hour) Category: Workshop

Shop cleaning and organization after HS completion.

  Sep 30, 2020     Cleaning - (1 hour) Category: Workshop

Shop cleaning and organization after HS completion.

  Aug 18, 2018     New Hangar!       Category: Workshop

Moved to my new 1575 sqft hangar. Complete with washroom, electronics lab and office.