Mar 09, 2024     Day 87 - (30 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

It has been awhile since the last report on the Veterans Build 750. There are a couple of reasons for this. A Rans S-12XL was donated to the chapter and a lot of time has been devoted to getting it ready for sale including an extensive condition inspection. Meanwhile, project participants have been working on the 750 off and on as time and schedules allow. In that time a couple of things have seen significant progress. First, the exhaust system has been installed. Unfortunately, in the process of doing that it was discovered that the exhaust interfered with the newly installed gascolator. The gascolator will have to be moved. The other main focus was on the elevator controls and cables. It has taken quite a while to get it all rigged properly, but it is finally complete.

  Dec 30, 2023     Day 86 - (10 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Today work continued on the vertical stabilizer. As noted last time, making the forward fin removable requires the installation of platenuts and screws in place of rivets. This time-consuming project is nearing completion.

  Dec 23, 2023     Day 85 - (15 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

The tail and the fuel system saw more progress this week. It was decided that the forward section of the vertical fin would be secured with screws and nutplates instead of riveted on as shown in the plans. This will allow the removal of the forward fin for inspections, adjustments, and maintenance. So much of this session was spent adjusting the fin to fit and match drilling all of the holes for that assembly. Now that the elevator is balanced, some time was also spent on the the trim servo. Meanwhile work continued on the fuel system. Lines were fabricated and installed from the gascolator at the firewall back through the fuel selector.

  Dec 16, 2023     Day 84 - (12 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Steady progress continued on the 750 this week. More work on the tail included fabricating mounting ribs for the horizontal stabilizer. Fuel lines that attach to the fuel selector were also fabricated and installed on the selector.

  Dec 09, 2023     Day 83 - (8 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

With a lot of other projects demanding attention, not much was done this week on the 750. The main focus was on installation of the elevator counter balance weights.

  Oct 07, 2023     Day 77 - (15 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

The saga of fitting the horizontal and vertical stabilizers resumed this week. One major sticking point is that the skins don't match up with the vertical stabilizer spar. After doing some research and looking at a few YouTube videos, it was concluded that it was necessary to fabricate and install a series of shims to correct the issue. The replacement for the bracket on top of the fuselage that caused earlier problems was also installed as well as the top elevator pulley. Once again, the stabilizers were test fitted and lots of measurements made. The end may be in sight for this difficult part of the project. The engine is due to arrive soon. Of course, we've heard that before…

  Apr 30, 2023     Day 70 - (29 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

The project for today was supposed to be installation of the landing gear. Unfortunately, the fellow at the paint shop where the main gear is located now has covid. So that project is on hold for the moment. So the group switched gears and decided to tackle the vertical stabilizer assembly. Oddly, the vertical stabilizer was included in the finish kit instead of with the empennage kit, so this airframe part still needed to be assembled. The parts were all identified, and interior surfaces scuffed, cleaned, then primed with Cortec. Holes were then drilled to the correct size and deburred. Assembly was then begun. By late afternoon the stabilizer was complete. The last step was to match it up with the rudder by mating the piano hinge and inserting the wire. Unfortunately, during this step it was discovered that the hinge on the stabilizer was on backwards which prevented the rudder from full travel side to side. The instructions regarding the installation of the hinge are not at all clear on this issue. So the next step will be to remove the hinge and reinstall it properly. That should conclude that project. Meanwhile some work was done on the shelves behind the instrument panel. For stability, a reinforcing plate was fabricated and attached with screws to connect the shelves to the console.

  Oct 16, 2021     Day 8 - (32 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

On October 14th, Mark and Richard made some progress putting together the elevator horn and did some work on the elevator. With that preparation, on Saturday the focus was on completing the elevator. An important step in that process was the installation of the trim tab servo. By the end of the session, the elevator was completed and attached to the horizontal stabilizer. So the entire horizontal tail is now pretty much finished. The next project will be the flaperons. Work on them will begin Saturday, October 23rd. (Note: I was told that since multiple people are working on the project, I should be reporting time spent in man hours (hours X #of people) which I have begun to do with this entry.)

  Oct 09, 2021     Day 7 - (6 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Progress on the tail section continued today. We continued to work on and skin the horizontal stabilizer. The hinge for the elevator is drilled and ready to attach to the elevator. Meanwhile, the elevator is now nearly ready to rivet along with the hinge. It was decided that the access panel for the elevator trim servo will be attached with plate nuts and screws rather than rivets. Mark has ordered the hardware necessary for that. There has also been discussion regarding an appropriate AOA system for the Cruzer. Mark will consult further with the fellow who will be putting together the instrument panel on that. The next session will be Saturday, October 16th.

  Oct 02, 2021     Day 6 - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Two projects saw good progress today on the Veterans Build. The framework for the horizontal stabilizer was reassembled, carefully inspected, and riveted together. The stabilizer skin was cleaned and primed, and near the end of the session, one side of the stabilizer skin was riveted to the frame. Meanwhile, the plans and manual for the elevator were examined and test assembly begun.Work will continue next Saturday, October 9th.

  Sep 25, 2021     Day 5 - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

The focus today was on the horizontal stabilizer. Early on, Steve Gross stopped by and answered some questions about our future instrument panel and shared some other ideas regarding the build. We then began disassembling the stabilizer frame and preparing it for final assembly. There are four small “L” shaped pieces that reinforce the corners of the frame. Mark and Richard fabricated and match drilled those. Meanwhile, all the other pieces were carefully cleaned and primed with Cortec. Once everything was dry, final assembly began. Dimitri, who was just awarded our Ray Aviation scholarship, joined us as the parts were beginning to go together. At the end of the session the first rivets went into the stabilizer, attaching doublers to one of the spars. The rest of the assembly will take place next time, Saturday October 2nd.

  Sep 18, 2021     Day 4 - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Good progress was made on Saturday. Parts for the horizontal stabilizer were further deburred and test assembled. Meanwhile, the rudder was cleaned, primed with Cortec, and clecoed together. Finally, it was time to begin riveting. Scott got the honor of pulling the first rivet. Before long, the rudder was done. The next session will be Saturday, September 25th.

  Sep 11, 2021     Day 3 - (5 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Work continued on tail feathers for the Veteran's 750 Cruzer on Saturday. The rudder is almost complete. All the holes have been drilled, it is clecoed together, and is now ready for priming and riveting. Meanwhile, parts for the horizontal stabilizer were located, checked, and are in the process of being deburred. The next session will be Saturday, September 18th at 9:00.

  Sep 02, 2021     Build Start - (4 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

Three of our veterans arrived Saturday to begin work on the 750 Cruzer. Jerry Blake began the session with an in-depth look at the materials, tools, and methods used for construction of the plane. They then moved on to study the plans and instructions for the rudder build. The first steps involved removing burrs, fitting the spar doublers to the spar, and securing everything with clecos. All in all it was a good day. A lot of information and important skills were learned. We are off to a great start! Due to the holiday, there will be no session next Saturday the 4th. The next session will be Saturday, September 11th at 9:00.