Mar 12, 2024     Restart - (4 hours) Category: Workshop

I have not made an entry since the beginning of January. The reason for this is that on the 8th of January, I started training at my airline for a different aircraft type - the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The process took almost two months and I made very few trips to the garage during this time.
Finally, I am a type-rated 737 Captain at my airline but since none of the airplanes have been delivered yet, I have extra time off now.
I spent several hours out in the shed cleaning up, organizing, and generally getting ready to work on my airplane again.

  Dec 31, 2021     Inventory - (15 hours) Category: Workshop

Inventory of parts using the plans to identify. More organizing hardware into storage containers.

  Dec 26, 2021     Practice Kits - (8 hours) Category: Workshop

Been working on the sheet metal projects to refresh myself on riveting and to teach Kelly how to do it. It has been quite awhile (25 years) but still seems pretty familiar. Doing the flight surface control kit.

  Nov 08, 2021     Horizontal Stabilizer - (4 hours)       Category: Workshop

Going over the plans from step 1. Verified the work was completed, and that it was completed in a satisfactory manner. Did the actual first work on the airplane - a section of the rear spar had to be removed to allow for elevator horn travel. Cut the two pieces out. The Beginning!
Then I spent the next hour violently shaking the elevators in an attempt to break up the mud dauber's nest inside. Shake, shake and bang it to try to get the dirt clumps to fall out of a tiny opening at the trailing edge of the elevator

  Oct 27, 2021     Hardware and Aircraft Pieces - (12 hours) Category: Workshop

Spent the last 3 days organizing hardware and aircraft parts. Had to lookup pieces to figure out what category they went in. Hardware is widely scattered and unorganized.

  Oct 22, 2021     Building Storage - (3 hours)       Category: Workshop

Time spent making carriages for the wings and fuselage.

  Oct 20, 2021     Airplane Arrives - (4 hours)       Category: Workshop

The airplane arrived today on a semi bound for Alaska. The driver and I unloaded the pieces and then I spent the next several hours stashing stuff in the corners of the workshop. So much to organize, so much to do.

  Oct 10, 2021     Getting the Shed Ready       Category: Workshop

Have a 2-car shed behind my house divided into 2 sections. Had to build a beam to support the ceiling in the middle and opened it up so I have room for an airplane.