Feb 25, 2024     Contiued mounting Control horns on Elevator - (8 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Installed Elevator control horn and installed Autopilot Trim Tab

  Feb 18, 2024     Reskinned the Elevator - (8 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Since I am installing the iLevel/Aircraft Automation I didnt want to have 2 trim tabs on the elevator, so I had Zenith make me up a elevator skin with out the cut out for the trim tab so that I could instal the trim servo that will operate the autopilit pitch. This also provides auto trim along with the autopilot nfunction. This trip out to the hangar I was able to complete the reskin and mount it to the horizontal stab, Next week I will complte the full rebuild which will include the control horns.

  Oct 02, 2022     Stabilizer end cap - (16 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

I built end caps for the horizontal stabilizers. These are designed using the EAA article. It noted that they should be no more than a 1/4 of the root. The root is 4in so I made the airfoil of the tip 1in. this will allow the airflow to stay over the elevator at low airspeeds and reduce vortices making the elevator more effective.

  Mar 24, 2022     Finished up the Dorsal - (6 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Completed the mount for dorsal on the Vertical fin

  Mar 20, 2022     Dorsal Fin and Access panel - (7 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

I did more trimming to allow for a better fit of the dorsal fin around the horizontal stabilizer. Also installed an access panel to allow for easy inspection of the elevator pulley.

  Jan 16, 2022     Mounted Tail - (16 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Over this past weekend i installed the horizontal and vertical stablizer. They are temp. Since i will be painting them while off the aircraft. Incidence of Horizontal is set to -0.9 deg. Which is with in. Tolerences of the plans. The mounting L-Angle is installed to allow mounting of the vertical stab to. The horizontal.

  Oct 03, 2021     Vertical Stab - (16 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Built the vertical stab made mistake. Installed hinge upside down, drilled rivets and corrected.

  Oct 08, 2020     Completion Elevator - (8 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I completed the elevator and hinged to the stabilizer. I had to drill out 5 rivets that I found out that I used the wrong size. I corrected this and completed the build of the section.

  Sep 27, 2020     Started assembly of the Elevator - (6 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

With the horizontal stab completed up to the point of installing on the fuselage, I decided to move on to the elevator assembly. So far all went smoothly. I did have some issues when it came to installing the L angle brackets on the center channel and the middle ribs. It is a tight fit and getting a drill in there to match drill was difficult. I ended up riveting it together as a sub-assembly and then installing it under the skin as one piece. At this point, all of the elevator is clecoed together. The elevator is also hinged to the Horizontal stab and moving freely. I will need to make final adjustments to the tips once the elevator is riveted together. The final steps of the assembly will be to install the counter balance and control horns. Then I will install the trim tab and servo for the pitch trim.

https://youtu.be/lf6Qq6Zzj5U

  Sep 20, 2020     Completion on the Horizontal Stab - (7 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I completed the assembly of the Horizontal Stab. Main goal was to correct a bad rivet on the L bracket holding the end rib on the tip. I then finished riveting the skin to the skeleton frame. I made a mistake while cleaning up a hole on the stab tip. The drill grabbed and pulled thru causing the hole to be bigger then needed. I repaired the hole by mixing 30min epoxy and micro balloons to fill the whole and then added 2oz fiberglass on top and bottom of the hole to regain the strength. I also ordered the remaining parts of the kit and I will be picking it up on Nov 30th 2020.
https://youtu.be/Mcp7gsajVho

  Sep 13, 2020     Horizontal Stabilizer Part 2 - (4 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I continued work on assembly of the horizontal stabilizer. I completed the riveting of the skins to the bottom of the skeletal structure. Installed the stab tip ribs. Clecoed the skin to the top of the stabilizer. I drilled and test fit the elevator hinge. Once completed, I determined that the hinge is about 2in too long total and will need to be trimmed to fit properly to allow freedom of movement of the elevator when the tips are installed. Next steps will be trimming and mounting the stabalizer tips.

  Sep 09, 2020     Horizontal Stabilizer Part 1 - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I started building the Horizontal Stab for my Cruzer. I started off with deburring all the parts needed. I then removed the label stickers on the parts prior to assembly. I ended my day with a test fitting the skin to the bottom. Video of progress is below and also linked.
https://youtu.be/Rhrq_suPvj8

  Aug 28, 2020     Tail Kit Arrived and Inventory - (1 hour)       Category: Tail Feathers

The Tail kit arrived from Zenith Aircraft. I took a careful inventory of the contents of the kit and found that 1 part was missing from the kit. (the L angle). with that Ialso determined that the new kit included another rudder kit. Should start the process of building the kit in the following weekend.

  Aug 09, 2020     Completion of rudder assembly - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I completed the rudder assembly. I followed the directions to the letter. All parts were de-burred and test fitted for proper fitting prior to cleco and then finally riveted. I started at 10:30AM and completed at 3:30PM (5Hrs). The rudder was set aside awaiting the next parts to be sent out from the factory. The next order will have the Horizontal Stab and Elevator assemblies.

  Aug 08, 2020     Rudder Trial Fit - (2 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today I deburred all the parts for the rudder. I then trial fit all the parts and cleco all together to see how it fit together. I put in an order for #20 and #30 drill bits so that I can drill the spar doublers and cleco together. Next week will start putting the rudder completely together and complete the assembly.