Sep 14, 2023     Laser cut parts inventory - (2.0 hours)       Category: Research

I spent a little more time identifying and separating the laser-cut parts that were indicated on the spreadsheet published by Vans, in preparation of the ordering form that will be available soon. Unfortunately, I have a fairly high percentage of laser cut parts in my empennage and fuselage kits, so a lot of my progress will be limited until I'm able to get the replacement parts.

  Jul 28, 2023     Oshkosh recap       Category: Research

I'm back from Oshkosh and the company status presentation from Vans about the current situation with the laser cut holes was very informative and timely. It sounds like even in their worst-case scenario testing the cracking in the dimpled holes is not the weakest part, and that (surprisingly) the inherent dimpled surface is still the weakest part. I later met up with Greg Hughes from Vans at one of the builder bash events and he personally answered some laser cutting questions for me as well.

It was fun meeting up with other builders as well. I learned that Kent who I had met through the Cherokees2Osh group was also building an RV-14. I got an awesome new RV-14 shirt from Josh with the Slack group info on it. Also met up with the VeArds and attended their session. I attended a couple of forum sessions about fiberglassing in RVs, which I'll need to eventually need to deal with in the later sections. I also won a giveaway from the Plane Lady of a new Tungsten bucking bar and a deburring tool, both of which I already had similar but different shaped versions of.