Apr 07, 2024     Inspected - (2 hours) Category: Inspection

The DAR stopped by yesterday and N68SG was inspected and found to be air worthy with no issues. Guess even a blind squirrel does get a nut now and then. Only thing I regret is that this build is complete cause it was a lot of fun.

  Mar 23, 2024     Registration and AWC Submission - (1 hour)       Category: Inspection

FINALLY got my registration and was able to submit my air worthiness request. Been talking to the DAR and working to get the plane ready for inspection.

  Feb 21, 2024     Hangar!! - (1 hour)       Category: Workshop

Well I guess the planets partially aligned for me. The FAA is still MIA but I got into a hangar at the local airport in Cashmere, WA!! So it was moving day for the plane where it now shares an abode with a Sonex. Nice small, low wing airplane that the Kitfox can fit over. Now I'll be able to do some of the fine tuning that I wanted to do with the wings spread that I couldn't do in the shop without moving outside.

  Jan 17, 2024     Yaw Dampener - (3 hours)       Category: Avionics

So while I am waiting on the FAA, I decided to add in the yaw dampener to my autopilot. I bought the kit sans servo to get things set up and tied into my aircraft wiring. Built up the mounting plate by installing the plate nuts and built up the cable that will run from my pitch servo to the yaw servo. Will actually do the wiring install after my inspection and buy the servo then.

  Jan 01, 2024     Just Waiting - (.1 hour) Category: Research

Happy New Year all! The Builder's Log notified me that it has been 30 days since I have posted on progress. The reason is simple - still waiting on the FAA registration so that I can apply for the airworthiness certificate. I am playing with possible color schemes that I could use on the fuselage as well as thinking I might add the yaw dampener to my autopilot (three axis). But the bottom line is that the plane is ready - just sitting in Winter storage in the shop.

  Nov 28, 2023     Cracked Door Glass Repair - (7 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Completed the repair on my right door window. Had to replace the window and re-install the door latch assembly along with the gasket edge tape..

  Nov 19, 2023     Door Window Repair - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Got my glass ordered from Kitfox and expected it to take a bit before I received it. Guess not. Only took a week and a half from when I ordered it to when I got it. So it was time to take the cracked glass off the door frame and that turned out to be a real bear. That VHB tape really sticks. Uses .030 safety wire to cut through the tape between the frame and the glass. That part was pretty easy. Removing the remaining tape from the frame was the hard part. Rubbed the old mastic really hard with my thumbs and for the most part, it peeled off the frame. Where it didn't, I used acetone to get that off. So now I am ready to fit the new glass to the door frame and the fuselage opening. Think it will be easier to do for the third time?

  Nov 06, 2023     Door Latches - (2 hours)       Category: Fuselage

So to add insult to injury.......... Went down in the shop to stop drill my door glass and take another look at why my latches were so tight. When I did the original fitting, I thought they were just perfect and that when I installed the doors and the rubber gasket, they would be a bit tight but functional. In the manual, Kitfox clearly says that you 'might' have to install a shim between the latch rods and the door frame. Should have taken that note a bit more to heart. My tight spot was where the rear rod pushed over the fuselage frame. Drilled out the rivets holding the bracket. Made a shim out of some .063 aluminum and cleco'd them in. The door latches both close smooth as silk. Not loose at all. Slightly compresses the rubber gasket. If you are putting in the optional latches, learn from my mistake. If I had just taken a bit more time in looking at this I would not be ordering a new door glass. Took me two hours to do the fix.

  Nov 05, 2023     Window Crack - (0.1 hour)       Category: Fuselage

Was working on getting a better fitting on my door latch and was making progress. Until this........... Oh boy.

  Oct 30, 2023     Interior - (6 hours)       Category: Interior Finish

Wanted to put in an entry to continue the saga of the Skybolt fasteners. I emailed the company and sent them pics of the bad fasteners along with the type retaining washers that I had lost when the fasteners failed. They responded the next day by both phone and email. Sent me a return label so that they could look at the actual failed items and shipped me replacement fasteners and washers 2nd day air. Literally three days after I had contacted them, I had replacements here and installed. Great responsive company.

Started on my interior by doing the skin covering on the sides and center of the seat pan. If you are familiar with this step, you will notice that I did not install the skin covering along the front of the seat. With the seat pan installed, the floor carpeting extends up and over that overhanging lip on the seat. A length of the fastening strip for the carpet attaches to that lip and it will adhere to the fiberglass of the lip better than the skin material. Once the carpet and seats are fully installed, you never see that part. Installed the carpet on to the floorboards and as the instructions suggested, used zip ties to help hold the strips to the boards. Carpet and seats are now fully installed.