Dec 01, 2021     EAA Sportair Workshop - Avionics and electrical - (15.0 hours)       Category: Research/Train

Finally had my class for the electrical and avionics workshop I signed up for six months ago. Great class with lots of good hands on. It was hosted by EAA Chapter 59 in McGregor, TX. They had their own large hangar with lots of space, tools, and a dedicated training room. They even have two Redbird simulators. What a facility. They are very lucky to have such a place.

First day talked about general components and wire sizing. Got to practice some crimping and then built a mock audio panel wiring harness. Plugged it in and it worked! The biggest surprise was how difficult it is to remove the outer insulation from shielded wire. They don't show that in Garmin's YouTube videos.

Second day we covered a lot on antennas which was one of the specific things I was hoping for. I got all of the information I needed. Crimped a BNC connector on a piece of coax and it is just beautiful.

We talked a little about system architecture and the the final project was to build a small panel with light controls. It doesn't look too special, but I'm proud of it.

Overall great class. Highly recommend. I feel very comfortable moving forward with my wiring, although it is going to be a lot of work.

  Nov 06, 2021     Lighting research - (3.0 hours) Category: Research/Train

Just documenting some decisions on lighting.

Definitely planning on Flyleds, just trying to figure which ones. The combo lights on the wing tips look good, but I worry about forward visibility of the landing light since the wingtip seems to block a bit. Seems like if you do the tip lights, you would need to add a light in the cowl, which they do have. I do like the look of the landing light in the leading edge though. Planning on a leading edge light would allow for their huge seven star light, but I think that might be obnoxious. At the very least a leading edge light will provide more flexibility for future lighting options.

So for know, this is what I'm thinking:
- “The original” Flyleds nav and strobe lighting in the tips $249
- Flyleds combo leading edge taxi/landing light (not the seven star) 2 x $179
- Flyleds tail light (sold separately) $99
- wiring harness $80
- wigwag switch $80
Optional: Aerosport cowl light $100

Question though - can I just use the works controller board with the original tips and leading edge lights?
Follow up answer - landing and taxi lights with wigwag will be controlled through Garmin GAD27.

  Nov 05, 2021     Avionics/Electrical research - (10 hours) Category: Research/Train

I've spent a lot of time over the last month reading up on anything I can find regarding electrical wiring and avionics installation. I think I'm going to get to a point where I'm comfortable doing all of that myself. Bought the Aeroelectric book which seems to be the Bible for home builder electrical systems.

I'm enjoying studying all of the schematics and manuals for the avionics. I feel like I understand the interconnect between all the G3x components and I have watched several CAN Bus videos. It's time to start drawing up the schematics for my system. I think it will help me visualize the harness and where everything goes. Some folks just send their component list to Stein and they will draw up the schematic for you; I may get to that point if I struggle but I think I'll try to do it myself. So what software? I have access to several CAD platforms, but I think it can be simpler. I started drawing it up in PowerPoint, but maybe not that simple. I saw someone had posted a diagram on VAF that they did using draw.io and it looked pretty good.

It's free and I've been playing with it the last few days and I think it is going to work well. It maintains connections of the wires, allows good annotation, and seems to have good logic for the display of the wire runs. I made a basic interconnect diagram and I like it so far.

I can see that I'm going to spend many hours over the next year drawing all of these systems up. To more accurately track my total time, I will start logging it.

Purchases: ACS: Aeroelectric ebook.

  Jun 11, 2021     SportAir Workshop - Electrical Category: Research/Train

There is a local Sportair workshop in December on Electrical Wiring and Avionics. Not quite there yet, but with wings arriving in the fall there will start to be some amount of wiring next year. Will be helpful as I start to plan ahead. Might as well take advantage of it being close by.

Purchases: EAA: Sportair workshop registration, Electrical book

  Mar 06, 2021     VOR antenna       Category: Research/Train

There seems to be as much debate on VOR antenna as primer. It seems a lot of folks are using the Bob Archer antenna in the tips. But it also seems as though there may be some reception issues. I want a true IFR capable plane, not one that I have to wonder is the antenna is going to crap out while I'm on the ILS. I don't mind the looks of the traditional v shaped antenna on the tail and with it high on the VS it won't be a poking hazard. It is not as though the exterior is going to be completely free of antennas. It would easier to mount on the belly by the rear tie down but I think that would poke an eye if you go to tie it down.

So I think I've decided it's going on top of the VS. I've seen the mounts some others have done running a conduit up through the VS and adding a doubler to the top rib. The Rami AV-520 seems to fit right between the top rib and the rudder counterbalance. Need to order some conduit and proseal from Van's.

I may change my mind on the Archer tip antennas, but if I run the conduit and do the doubler plate now at least I'll have the option when I get closer to avionics install.

Purchases: Van's conduit, proseal, conduit clamps; ACS nut plates and screws

  Jan 15, 2021     Primer Debate Category: Research/Train

I know it is too soon to be digging into, but you can't help but get drawn into the great primer debate. I've sprayed plenty of epoxy paints for my RC models, and yes I would like to avoid that. It really will slow me down, not just physically but mentally. The mixing, the waiting, the spraying, the curing, the clean-up - all of these steps weight on my mind and tend to prevent me from moving forward with my projects. Plus the health issues. But I do feel like I want to prime at least the contact surfaces. If nothing else from a re-sale value. I'll admit, I'm also a sucker for zinc-chromate green finish on interior parts.

I think I'll fall somewhere between using rattle cans or one of the 1-part water-based primers.

  Jan 13, 2021     RV-10 Discovery Flight       Category: Research/Train

The reality of moving forward at all with this build brought to the forefront the fact that I have never even sat in an RV, much less flown one. There are not many -10's in the DFW area, but one of the Van's transition instructors is here in South Dallas and he has a -7 and a -10. I called Alex De Dominicis with RVTraining.com, and he said we could do an hour that would count eventually toward my transition training and insurance minimums.

Beautiful afternoon flying out of Eagles Nest (T56). We did a brief preflight, he showed me how to get in the plane (not as easy as it should be), reviewed the instruments (he had a dual AFS PFD/MFD with a GTN 750). He took off and gave me the controls on climb out. I did some turns, he demonstrated a power-off stall, then I flew to Midway (JWY), and I did some touch and go's in the pattern, then he flew back to T56. 1.1 hours of RV-10 time in the log book! Enjoyed my time with Alex. Will definitely go back to him for my transition training, and may take some "motivation flights" along the way.

Impressions: overall very pleased with the performance and handling. Castering nose wheel will take some getting used to. First time flying a stick and it was no issue. The plane goes where you point it with minimal trim; probably the easiest to fly airplane I've flown. It has the power to weight of the Bonanza, but you never feel like you have you're hands full or that it can get away from you. Really good forward visibility, but a little bit different sight picture that I need to remember - the nose looks like it is pointing severely to the right to me. This was pronounced in left turns when I was finding myself adding left rudder that wasn't necessary and on landing I was adding left rudder to align with centerline and Alex asked me what I was doing. I swore the nose was pointed 20 degrees to the right. It will take some getting used to.

His MFD and PFD are both on the master and they tend to brown out when starting. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. I hope that I can avoid that. [Later research says this is why people run a back-up battery.]

The cruise numbers that he quoted were a little disappointing, but I think they are just much more conservative than what others are running. He said he runs 165 MPH at 13 gal/hr ROP. There are several others on vansairforce that are getting closer to the 190-200 MPH book value at 13 gal or less.

Purchases: RV-10 Training Flight - RVTraining.com