Putting RC on hold for a more "rewarding" project

[redshift]

^ ;)

[J57ltr]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

My point was more to illustrate that it's not a simple drop in where as buying the proper setup will be the better and less expensive route in the long run. Not too mention that you really need to stick with the type engine the plane was designed around.

You are right, but the statment that a car engine cannot be placed in a plane is incorrect. There are lots of car engines that make into experimental homebuilt planes, including small block Chevy V8's. I don't know what rotary engine you are talking about, did you mean Rotax? The guy that put the 3.8L supercharged V6 engine out of a Supercoupe in his plane (don't remember what it was) came to our board to ask some questions, I told him that I wouldn't recomend it because it's not a reliable engine (or engine managment system for that matter). I don't remember what happened with the project.

Willy,

What type of time frame do you think it will take you to get it finished? I remember one of my Dad's friends had a Long EZ when I was about 12 or so and I thought that was the cats pajamas. I really like the "new" kits they have out now for the sport flying segment. I know it's probably going to be a few years before you get done but that's what hobbies are for. Have fun with it, a lot of it is going to be a PITA and frustrating, but the fun of flying will make up for it.

Jeff

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by redshift

I was joking Tex.. whole 'nother set of standards, reliability issues I know. But I would like to see a giant outrunner in that thing!

Lipos would set him back a bit I reckon....

Cool deal, I missed it, went over my head. I have been to busy trying to take a "crash course" on a bunch of plane terminology lately and have been overexposed to general aviation lately so my meter must be off.....

I have also had to catch up on airplane engine breathing at different altitudes manifold pressure, and all that kind of junk. Couple that with some quick avionics lessons as well as wait and balance calculations my brain is on overload.

As far as the rotary I meant rotax and I am sorry. My father-in-law spent about a year researching light sport aircraft before he bought and rotax engines were the standard across the board.

[Snipin_Willy]

Originally Posted by J57ltr

You are right, but the statment that a car engine cannot be placed in a plane is incorrect. There are lots of car engines that make into experimental homebuilt planes, including small block Chevy V8's. I don't know what rotary engine you are talking about, did you mean Rotax? The guy that put the 3.8L supercharged V6 engine out of a Supercoupe in his plane (don't remember what it was) came to our board to ask some questions, I told him that I wouldn't recomend it because it's not a reliable engine (or engine managment system for that matter). I don't remember what happened with the project.

Willy,

What type of time frame do you think it will take you to get it finished? I remember one of my Dad's friends had a Long EZ when I was about 12 or so and I thought that was the cats pajamas. I really like the "new" kits they have out now for the sport flying segment. I know it's probably going to be a few years before you get done but that's what hobbies are for. Have fun with it, a lot of it is going to be a PITA and frustrating, but the fun of flying will make up for it.

Jeff

Zenith Aircraft Co. has organized workshops in Florida that really push a builder to building this plane in a minimal amount of time. From beginning to finish they had one put together and flying in less than 7 days. That's a really accelerated program with experienced aircraft builders guilding 1 individual on the build. A normal person can have the kit done in about 250 to 300 hours total build time. That being said, I'm not building the plane for a hobby, I'm building it because I wanna fly it! If things go well I'll have it finished in less than a year, be even better if I can have the frame put together by sometime this coming spring. I'm not going put in a few hours on weekends, I'm going to put in a few hours every day I can manage to focus after work, and longer build times on weekends.
I'm not a person to cut corners or say something is "good enough" when it will be holding my butt up more than 2000ft off the ground. If I can understand a step in the build, I'll stop and call Zenith for help. That might be one of the first things I end up doing because I'm a little confused on installing the leading edge fuel tanks (exact place where my dad stopped on the build).
I'll post pics when I pick up parts of the kit and finish build steps along the way. Today I managed to build my work table that I'll be using, only took a few hours.

[Metallover]

how often are diesels used in aeroplanes? You should put a diesel in yours.

They're more efficient, more powerful, they have a simpler design, and they last forever.

[Snipin_Willy]

I'm just going to stick with the magneto driven reciprocating engines. The Jabiru should do fine and there is plenty of documentation on it.

[J57ltr]

Originally Posted by Snipin_Willy

Zenith Aircraft Co. has organized workshops in Florida that really push a builder to building this plane in a minimal amount of time. From beginning to finish they had one put together and flying in less than 7 days. That's a really accelerated program with experienced aircraft builders guilding 1 individual on the build. A normal person can have the kit done in about 250 to 300 hours total build time. That being said, I'm not building the plane for a hobby, I'm building it because I wanna fly it! If things go well I'll have it finished in less than a year, be even better if I can have the frame put together by sometime this coming spring. I'm not going put in a few hours on weekends, I'm going to put in a few hours every day I can manage to focus after work, and longer build times on weekends.
I'm not a person to cut corners or say something is "good enough" when it will be holding my butt up more than 2000ft off the ground. If I can understand a step in the build, I'll stop and call Zenith for help. That might be one of the first things I end up doing because I'm a little confused on installing the leading edge fuel tanks (exact place where my dad stopped on the build).
I'll post pics when I pick up parts of the kit and finish build steps along the way. Today I managed to build my work table that I'll be using, only took a few hours.

I don't know if you read in the other thread link I posted but my Dad always said "you can't pull it over on the side of a cloud to fix it". So ya, it's gotta work. I was always scared of working on aircraft because of the responsibility. If I screw up in my job I don't have to worry about dealing with a mistake that could kill people.

I remember one time my Dad came home from work and was so pissed, he had spent 4 hours searching for a 9/16" wrench, on a heli he was working on that I had borrowed from his tool bag and didn't return in time. I guess thats why he's the cheif inspector for customs air interdiction branch here.

So do you have a T hanger or a big garage you are going to do the final assembly? Can't wait to see the updates.

Originally Posted by Snipin_Willy

I'm just going to stick with the magneto driven reciprocating engines. The Jabiru should do fine and there is plenty of documentation on it.

Amen to that!!

Jeff

[redshift]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

Cool deal, I missed it, went over my head. I have been to busy trying to take a "crash course" on a bunch of plane terminology lately and have been overexposed to general aviation lately so my meter must be off.....

Yeah my mother actually soloed when I was in HS, I remember all the time and study she put in. And then she just lost interest. I wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid, like most probably. Not so much anymore I guess, but still trying to fly the little ones.

Wish you luck man!

[redshift]

Originally Posted by J57ltr

If I screw up in my job I don't have to worry about dealing with a mistake that could kill people

That's why I could never work in fast food

[Snipin_Willy]

The plane is being built is parts, like most kits. Many people build the parts in a 1 car garage, so my 2 car garage should be more than enough space. After doing some step retracing, I think I found a bit of missing documentation that my dad miss on the leading edge fuel tanks. It appears that the wing tanks are held in place by layered pieces of cork surrounding the aluminum tank. Keeps it from chaffing with the leading edge. There doesn't appear to be any hard mounting for the wing tanks.
I'll ask my dad to get the wings off the wall of his hanger and ready to transport as I should be making another trip to the ranch in a few weeks.

[J57ltr]

Originally Posted by redshift

That's why I could never work in fast food

Lol. I hate having my days off still smelling like french fries and tacos.

Jeff

[TexasSP]

J57ltr, do you make it around Hooks at all? That's were my Dad's hangar is at. On the Stuebner side.

[J57ltr]

No S**T! My Dad is the inspector at Hooks for Customs. They are at the corner of Boudreaux and 2920. But I used come in on Thora to fish at the waterway. I actually live near Huffsmith and Boudreaux. I love the Hanger Homes over there.

Jeff

[TexasSP]

Cool, My Dad's Hangar is next to John Davis/Riteway and behind Terry Sondy's that he lives in. I know exactly where you are talking about.

I also live close, off of Old Stuebner.