Apr 18, 2024     Rear Fairing - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Now that the elevator pitch is set correctly I discovered that the fairing on station 11 needed to be substantially trimmed so the elevator could travel to its full limit. That meant installing new support strips and nut plates.

  Apr 18, 2024     Fixed the Pitch of the Elevator - (2 hours)       Category: Controls

We used an electronic protractor to set the pitch of the elevator both up and down and riveted the pushrod stops in place. We then had to adjust the length of the small pushrods that were connected to the control stick so they didn't hit the panel or the cage near the seat.

  Apr 18, 2024     Tried to Set the Pitch on the Blades - (1.5 hours)       Category: Propeller

I was able to set the pitch on one of the blades but when only I moved to the second I was only able to twist it about 10 degrees. We took the front cover off and swapped blades but it was the heal of the blade. I called Whirlwind and they said that this is not unusual as they bond the heal onto the blade and occasionally they come off oblong. We need to sand the heal down a bit for easier pivoting. That will happen tomorrow or next week.

  Apr 18, 2024     Patch Hole in bottom Skin - (.75 hour)       Category: Fuselage

We had to move the brake line when we installed the correct header tank for the 915. We finally got around to patching this hole in the skin. This will be under the gear leg fairing.

  Apr 17, 2024     Attached Adelle Clamps on Heater Hoses - (1.5 hours) Category: Engine

Adelle clamps were attached to the heater hoses that I installed yesterday. They were needed to prevent the hoses from rubbing on the engine mounts.

  Apr 17, 2024     Wing Fuel Tank Brackets AD-142 - (4 hours)       Category: Wings

We prepared the brackets shipped to me by Rans. We then measured and match-drilled the bottom of the wing and the brackets. The brackets were then riveted in.

  Apr 17, 2024     Rudder Travel - (1 hour) Category: Controls

We measured the rudder travel and calculated the rudder travel angle. We calculated it only traveled 25 degrees. I called Rans and Randy told me to file down the rudder stop, in the tail, down on both sides until we reach the minimum of 28 degrees. We will do that tomorrow.

  Apr 17, 2024     Elevator Push/Pull Rod - (.5 hour)       Category: Controls

I bolted the push rod to the elevator horn.

  Apr 17, 2024     Tighten Rudder Cables - (1.5 hours)       Category: Controls

We went back and forth loosening and tightening the front pully and changing the attachment holes on the various tangs. We finally got the front pully cable, rudder cable, and the rudder return cable tight enough to my satisfaction.

  Apr 16, 2024     Engine Wiring - (6 hours)       Category: Engine

We are making headway but it is slow going as we are double checking the wires and Brenden makes the connectors.

  Apr 16, 2024     Cabin Heater Hoses - (1.95 hours)       Category: Engine

:( After going back and forth with Rans trying to figure out what they meant, they sent me a video. There are NO Ts at the firewall. The picture in the parts manual is a bit misleading. The text manual is not clear but after I finally understood what Rans wanted it is clear. All that time was wasted but now it is correct.

  Apr 16, 2024     Antennas - (1 hour)       Category: Avionics

All the antennas are now attached. I must say climbing into the tail to the transponder and ADSB antennas was a challenge I not as limber as I once was.

  Apr 15, 2024     Antennas - (2 hours)       Category: Avionics

I attached the Com, ELT, and transponder antennas to the fuselage. We still need to install the GPS and the ADSB antenna when I get the correct nuts, washers, and bolts.

  Apr 15, 2024     Schematics - (6 hours) Category: MISC

Chris continued to make the schematics for the rest of the wiring ie to the lights pitot tube heater.

  Apr 15, 2024     Engine Electrical. - (7 hours)       Category: Engine

Brenden continued working on the wiring of the 915. We had a tech support call to Lockwood Aviation to clarify where to connect the grounds. He also made the starter and solenoid power cables. He worked on assembling the HIC A and HIC B connectors.

  Apr 15, 2024     Wingtip Nav and strobe Lights - (1.5 hours)       Category: Lighting

I installed the connectors on the lights. I had to enlarge the holes in the wingtips as the connectors wouldn't fit. I then attached the lights on the wingtips.

  Apr 15, 2024     Heater Hose connections - (2 hours)       Category: Engine

I verified that Rans wanted me to mount a 1" hose on the 5/8ths" leg at the source and destination coolant hose T's and then mount the hose on the 1" legs on the firewall connections. I was uncomfortable with this as I am concerned that over time the 1" hose on those 5/8th" legs would eventually leak. I instead purchased metal automotive metal cooling system 5/8" T's and installed 5/8" cooling system hoses.

  Apr 12, 2024     Installed Outside Temp Sensor - (1 hour)       Category: Avionics

We installed the outside air temperature sensor under the horizontal stabilizer so it will be out of the sun.

  Apr 12, 2024     Engine Electrical - (8 hours)       Category: Engine

Brenden worked on the electrical connections with the engine. This included a lot of research in the Rotax installation manual and pondering over the Advanced supplied schematics. I helped him retrace wires that the labels had fallen off.

  Apr 12, 2024     Schematics - (6 hours)       Category: MISC

Chris continued to work on the schematics. He worked on adding all the connectors we have added including wire colors and pin numbers.

  Apr 12, 2024     Electrical to the Trim Motot - (1 hour)       Category: Tail Feathers

Taylor routed the cable we had run previously from the passenger side to the pilot's side and zip-tied it to station 10. He then enlarged a hole and ran it out the top of station 11. He then notched the tail cone so the wire could then run up into the elevator.

  Apr 12, 2024     Attached the Elevator - (3.95 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

While we were attaching the elevator we noticed that the bushings on the elevator had been installed with the incorrect side in. This was one of the first pieces we built and hadn't yet known to look for those things. We were able to reverse them without damaging them. We then bolted them onto the horizontal stabilizer.

  Apr 12, 2024     Vertical Stabilizer - (2 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

We reinstalled the vertical stabilizer and torqued down all the bolts.

  Apr 12, 2024     Installed Horizontal Stabilizer - (4 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

We set the bushing in the horizontal stabilizer incidence adjustor in the center. This is approximately halfway between the 912 and the Titan setting. This was confirmed by Tony at Rans. Taylor and I need additional washers in the rear to bolt it to station 11. We used 2 thick on the pilot's side and one thick and one thin on the passenger side. We used the nifty washer holder that Taylor made using a scrap aluminum strip and tape. We then torqued down all the bolts.

  Apr 11, 2024     Schematics - (5 hours)       Category: MISC

Chris continues to enhance and add information to CAD files provided by Advanced. He is adding information on the wiring we are doing and adding the connectors that we are installing.

  Apr 11, 2024     Wiring On the Engine - (7 hours)       Category: Engine

Brenden spent most of the day continuing the wiring of the engine. He was able to finish the X3 connector and the grounding straps. He spent a lot of time reviewing the Rotax installation manual and the schematics produced by Advanced.

  Apr 11, 2024     Air Temperature Sensor - (.5 hour)       Category: Instrument Panel

We mounted the temperature sensor to the fuselage, which will be under the horizontal stabilizer.

  Apr 11, 2024     Mounted Vertical Stabilizer - (3 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Taylor and I mounted the vertical stabilizer, to discover we needed to install the horizontal stabilizer first :(. Taylor removed the vertical stabilizer.

  Apr 11, 2024     Installed Connector For Light on Tail - (.5 hour)       Category: Lighting

We installed the connector on the top of the fuselage to connect to the vertical stabilizer.

  Apr 11, 2024     Installed The rudder - (1 hour)       Category: Tail Feathers

Taylor and I mounted the rudder to the vertical stabilizer.