| I was not
sure exactly where to start in building the centerpod or even what shape it should
be so as with the rest of the project I picked up a piece of wood and started
to carve away what looked like it did not belong. |
 | I
cut out the wing saddle and tapered the rear. |
Here I have added the canopy shape and seperated the two
sides.
|  |
 | Forward
section all framed up, still need to add ply doublers inside. |
Here I have started on the center pod, lower rear section.
This section will be permanently attached to the wing.
|  |
| Couple
of days getting things worked out building the landing gear. I had the mains made
in a local machine shop (thanx to Keith @ Runde's Machine Shop) but bought the
nose gear from Robart. |
| The basic parts of the main gear. I used my Robart zp38 gear
as a pattern for the mains.
|
The completed gear back home, ready to install.
|  |
|
The Junk Yard Dog (new name for the plane) on it's feet for
the very first
time. The nose gear arrived after the mains were built, requiring
a trip back
to the machine shop to have the mains shortened, I did not realize
the
Robart nose gear was so short. Even after shortening the mains the center
pod will still have to be modified so the plane will sit level. |
latest
pics of the twin, bottom sheeting almost done except where I'm still working on
servo installation, servos will be going in the tail. I am also "experimenting"
with a covering technic recommended by RCU's F4u5 aka Jeff Quesenberry using Enviro-Tex
and cloth, initial test prove to be strong but "my" technic needs some
refinement |
 |
Servo mountings, battery and receiver compartment, one in each boom. |  |
 | |  |
Weight with engines installed 27 1/2 lb. with
props and mufflers, projected 30-40 lb., 35 lb. looks doable have settled on 100
in span, 17 in chord, can someone do the math on the wing loading for me? | | Weight
without engines, half of the servos are installed, battery packs added for reference
most of the sheeting is done
|
 |
Ouch! |
Well, it was a beautiful spring day and we took the trainer project outside
to work on it (it's getting too big to work on in the shop). As you can see was
making some good progress, got the center section all finished and the boom sheeting
all done. Took the hatches and wing boltdown covers in to start the fiberglassing.
All in all, was have a pretty good day, decided to put everything away and go
in for supper when disaster struck.
Post crash report from MAA Accident Investigation
Team.
Damage to aircraft is as follows, center pod seems to have born the
major brunt of the crash and would appear to be 100% destroyed, would probably
have survived the initial impact but the secondary impact with the 250lb. man
was more than it could bear. Starboard boom suffered damage to the landing gear
mount. Port boom had slightly more damage, fin and rudder broken, side sheeting
damaged from the rudder forward approximately 8", new prop broken. Pilot
suffered skinned shin, sprained wrist, and major damage to ego and spirit. Investigation
show cause of crash to be pilot error. Pilot fail to clear properly check for
clear path before attempting to carry plane into hanger, pilot tripped over trailer
tongue causing plane to hit the ground at a severe angle and the pilot to crash
down upon the plane.
This report has been forwarded to HQ for disposition
and a hearing will be held to determine what fines and penalties are to be assessed
against the pilot. |
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