Piet Fil

Geoff, congrats on the solo today, it puts you on the pilots side of the line that divides us from the rest of the population! You'll never look at the world from a non-aviation point of view again. Now you can join me in getting grumpier as the time from the last flight grows till my wife kicks me out to get my fix again and we return home with smiles. Enjoy the journey, now that first major hurdle is behind you. Phil

I ended up going with the Dual XGPS150 over the bad elf, it bluetooths to the iPad and I can put the receiver on the dash. It then doesn't get in the way when the iPad mini is in the thigh pad. I've been happy with it, battery endurance is good. They are comparable in price around $95 ish off the net. Phil

Did the hangar designer authorise the fitting of that prop or is it an owner built 19 Reg experimental hangar?? Phil

I used to be the crazy guy walking his dogs, talking out loud to himself. I would recite all the prestart routines, engine start, radio calls, pre-take off run ups, take off, circuit calls, downwind checks, etc out loud as a way of making them more second nature to me. I found it really helped, particularly with the radio calls, stopped me getting tongue tied. I find I still do it when I am having withdrawals between flights ... Lol. Phil

As above, glad you are OK. How did the TIF passenger take it? Not too badly I hope.

Loved the slo-mo of the spitfire at low level. Great stuff Iggy Thanks Phil

Well done, I'd agree it wasn't that "first love" bloom after solo, but more a growing sense of satisfaction and thorough enjoyment in flying and what I was achieving that just hasn't stopped!

I take the view that if the AD operator goes to the effort of placing themselves as PPR in ERSA, then unless I have contacted them on the supplied number then it's a no go for me. If you attempt to get permission over the radio, Who's to say that the person on the other end of the radio has the authority to grant you approval. They are asking for a courtesy call and unless I'm in an emergency I wouldn't be abusing their hospitality. That's my view ... Anyways, Hope you have a good flight Ayavner Phil

Well done Robyn, enjoy the newly granted freedom! Phil

Jigged the fuselage up and fitted seat backs and cross members. Had some interesting fitting for the rear seat due to the additional bracing for the passenger door but got there in the end. Then Started cutting and sanding phenolic bushes for the wing strut fittings, was happy with sanding to size (was aiming for 1" +0.005) also Trimmed fuselage side plywood. .

Last flight was 30th dec. smashed out a bunch of circuits, including: two simulated engine failures in the circuit, two flapless landings and six landings in normal configuration. Good fun session. Started around 0845 to avoid the turbulence, which just started to kick in as I was finishing. Phil

Merry Christmas to one and all on the forum. And a special thought to those who are on deployment/Ops or just away from loved ones today. Stay safe and have fun Phil

Nev, A kind offer regarding the magnetos but I think I'll pass. I am trying to keep the experimental part of the build to a minimum. Hence using the certified plan set from the uk and aircraft grade material throughout. I'll just build the engine the way William wynne recommends and be happy with that. There are a lot of them flying with that configuration and getting high hours between overhaul with very good reliability. Ta Phil

Matty, not a course per se, but Snowy Mountains Aviation (Mike Apps) has a hell of a lot of experience in Mountain flying. The have a guide on mountain flying on their web site written by Barry Wrenford (http://snowyaviation.com/page12.htm) Hope this helps Phil

Been making progress since the last posts. Lots of cutting spruce lumber and machining. Have made the wing spars, wing tip bows and fuselage sides (as per photos below). Have decided to put in a front cockpit door to assist the passenger entry/exit.

Marine Engineer (and shipwright by trade) building a Pietenpol :-)

Congrats Ayavner, it's good to see you appreciate the responsibility that comes with the pax endo. It's a great experience to share flying with others, enjoy it well.

Use the iPad mini (wifi version) whilst sitting on the lounge family (being social).

Congrats Ayavner, a big ask in one day! You would have had a square butt come the end of it. All the same, well done. Enjoy your newly given freedom of the skies. Phil

Second what Scott said, it was a great hands on course and a big thanks to Scott and George for organising it. It was also great to meet a few forum members and put faces to names. Now I just have to save up and buy that tig machine ;-) If you are a builder and get the chance to do a hands on course . . . Go for it.

Enjoy Jeff, where abouts are you flying from?

Unfortunately I am on a TIG welding course that weekend but if you ever run it again I'll be there with bells on. Really keen to get training in spin/unusual attitude recovery training.

Yeah, direct drive so I'll install a weseman 5th bearing for additional support at the front of the crank. It'll also be using a lot of William Wynn parts. Still a few years away from that stage of the project.

For that reason I'm going with the long fuselage and corvair engine.

Added some new shots in the album of the extended bench, ripping up longerons and sparcaps, and the jig for scarfing the spar face ply. Not to mention one of my trusted workshop companions (below)