Let The Fun Begin

One box showed up at work on the fifth, the other the sixth of January. So many guys at wok wanted me to open it up, I told them no way, as this is as much a family affair as it is my dream and none of those people are “The Woman Who Lets Me Live With Her”
My lovely wife Dora took this photo.

Inventory took place over the next few days and everything was there.

 

It’s hard to tell, but what I did in this photo is put metal tape on the angle stock to mark the cut lines and hole locations. I set my dial caliper to the required dimension then drag it along the edge I am measuring from. This makes a thinner “mark”, as a “line” has no width. Accuracy is lost every time a measurement is transferred from a ruler by hand. Marks made in this manner can easily be highlighted by marking with a sharpie and rubbing off as much ink while still wet. Final sizing is done to the edge of the mark, this usually leaves parts a little fat.

12 Jan 11 Fwd and aft horizontal stab drilled with HS 908 attach angles fabricated and fitted.

13 Jan 11 Drilled HS 912 hinges, prepped H.S. main and nose ribs.

14 Jan 11 Clecoed together, getting ready to size holes.

Here my son, Henrique, and I are taking a break from me getting my a$$ kicked by him on Halo Reach. I have no doubt that he will be able to handle a glass panel, judging by his video gaming skills. It is truly amazing his ability to process all the information displayed in battle for the top half for his screen, and the bottom half for my information as well. He knows where I am by what I see. Invisibility doesn’t help. When I see my head in his screen…… .

Photo once again by Dora, check out her cool photos here.

http://dora-miller.artistwebsites.com/

The "Plan" Long form

Thanks everyone for your input. The common thread many of you expressed was addition of time and complexity. When I here this from a few people its time to step back and really think about what I want and why.
First I want to go fast. If this means no bush work, I am O.K. Years ago the FAA put out a little safety flier that had preliminary accident data on the back page. Ninety percent of the incidents (in Alaska ) started with the phase “ during off airport take off” or “landing”. The one year ban on that kind of flying when I got my first airplane gave me time to meet other pilots and get tips on that kind of work and plenty of time to get to know the airplane and how to practice in safer conditions. What can the nine do?
With 8.50 X6’s I can expect to go anywhere a 172 or 206 can go with the same tires. Beaches and gravel bars. Those tires have been put on a -9, and I expect to see that airplane before I purchase the gear legs. Flying in the fall (read hunting season ) the water level drops as things start to freeze. The surfaces are plentiful, the width required for low wing will be the bigger issue. If it were a matter of “ I want to go there”, it could be problematic. I just want to go someplace. And at 170 MPH there are more places to pick from.
Second, once having found a place to go, I might like to go back. Making a place to go back to can be beat out of what is already out there in a week or two, with the exception of floor and roof. The cargo rack has now be abandoned for hard points. Its like a two hole antenna mount on steroids to screw eyes into. I want to (try) to carry 2’X8’ plywood and tin roof. Enough for to cover a 12’x12’ pole cabin in two or three trips. I think it can be done. (not that it should!) Other things to carry are, a dip net, kayak, fold a boat sono tubes a long shovel, or even aluminum poles for a large tent. The eyes come off, the holes get plugged and I am back to being speedy. Antennas will have to go up top. I got my practice mounting about 20 com antennas for fleet upgrades on a curved surface this year, so know by experience that each new mount will take 6 hours and each mirror image will take half that. Hard points tie to existing heavy members without adding any extras hole to that member. However extra holes rivets will go in the skin to “repair” the ¼” or 5/16” hole in the skin. Longer gear is not even considered. Moves the wheel back, forces a change in angle at the mount, changes the angle that the spring works. To complicated.
Third, stall fence. Seems to me Van tried this? Any one know anything about this? Making and installing the internal supports for this removable fence will again, be quick as this kind of thing is my life work and I already have lots stuff lying around.
Last. Aileron droop. At first I was trying to envision how to do this with dual controls between the control sticks. I’m pretty sure I have a workable solution (if it fits),but then quit that as I value simplicity (I’m lazy) I gave it up for Pilots stick only. It has already been done, on the original RV-3.The picture I have doesn’t show much, just where, and that it works. With this I have dreamed up three basic ways to do this, but until I have existing parts in hand, further development is just not doable. I have worked on the Robertson stol conversion and I imagine this is what the Ag cat has. To much monkey motion!
The one thing you guys missed is for the ski’s. The twisting load put on this or any gear during a slow taxi or ground handling can be considerable. How big are the gear mount bolts?
If a 200 MPH Super cub were available, I wouldn’t be building this. An argument can be made that the PA-18 was originally a piece of farm equipment, judging my the spray equipment found in the factory parts book. Look how far it has come. How far can the -9 go? Stretching this airplanes usefulness just a little sounds exciting. I don’t think I really proposing to do that much. An avionic upgrade would be more mentally taxing for me. The rivet gods I have appeased, the demon electrons, not so much.
Thanks again for helping me flush out these ideas, as time thinking and not sleeping is better spent than time lost losing sleep, over time spent uselessly. Please (forgive that sentence, after all I’m a sheet metal guy.)