Bigglesworth

Personally no chute, as Mick says, they really are only wanted in the case of structural failure, which is rare. Or Pilot failure (heart attack etc) and deployed by passenger. Also rare. I would much prefer to try a forced landing by flying the thing under control, than to be out of control. But an option might be wanted by some. (after all, some people even like airbags;))

Talk about it. And pictures, and details. Being a kit I don't know where half of the things come from e.g seatbelts. And no serials on Garry's props. all makes life fun. By the way, I weighed in lighter than you, 263kgs, but thats accurate to within about 10 kg so maybe not. Also check your balance, you say in your other thread that you need to load the front locker with one person; shouldn't that be rear? That is my situation. 1 up load rear, 2 up balance luggage. Hopefully paperwork will be back tomorrow, and all systems go for the weekend.

Sweet That is a sweet looking plane. One question: How come you got so many more compliments than I did? So, to see if this evens it up, I'll put my pics into your thread and see what happens. [ATTACH]4407.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]4408.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]4409.vB[/ATTACH] Still no spats, they would only get in the way when loading it on the truck to take to the nearest large airport. No RMW decals yet, but I have got them. Just imagine them on the front. See you soon.'be' Oh, and since you are not allowed to say it. They are both da*n sexy planes.:;)7::;)7::;)7::;)7:

Thanks everyone for your kind words, I have just finished the paperwork (almost), so if all goes well, expect bigger news on next weekend. How does everyone else do a weight and balance? I used bathroom scales, and while I am confident that I can interpret the results correctly, they did not seem in any way accurate. But I think it will fly, and the figures seem to balance, so RAA should be happy. So all is good. BTW, How did yours go, Slarti? And where is the picture we are all hanging out to see?

The moon, from an aeroplane

PASSED FINAL INSPECTION!!!!!! Hey y'all, Life is great, there is a God, He is good to me. Cowboy Up passed final inspection. I was advised to neaten up the wiring to stop it chafing, and to trim the spinner where it touched the prop, And to replace the ballpoint pen holding the stabilator : I couldn't find the bolt. But other than that. good. And the motor ticks over nicely. Didn't start first time, but thats because in the heat of the moment, I forgot to turn the CDIs on'wb''wb''wb'. So thats why checklists are a good idea. Whatever, everyone have a drink for me. 5 months (less 2 days) later.

Like checklists.

WHOOPEE, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M WINNING :big_grin: But it could still change yet, I have a fair bit to go still in fiddly bits. And while you will take off as soon as it is ready, I have to arrange transport to Moruya, time off work (I want to do the hours in one hit) a visitors pass since I haven't got an ASIC,,,,,, etc etc. And get my flying up to standard. Yeah. I won't be able to make it to Taree, so it looks like I will be flying it with none on type. But I will get debriefings from 2 instructors, and only go when they both pronounce me fit to do so. Hopefully I can swing the use of a Sportstar for a few hours, closer to the Cheetah than anything I have flown. But even in my minimal hours, I have about 5 different types (from Bantam to C150 to taildragger Lightwing and more), so I am a bit used to switching planes. And it is all in Gods hands anyway.:)

International athiests day = April 1

My sister calls me Shrek, don't add to the pain:crying: The final is due on next Friday, so I had better finish off the motor side. Now I have to start planning the test flying, have to get a bit more current, and in similar planes. Hopefully I can arrange to have a fly in a Sportstar, which should be similar. The end is in site.

How many scientists does it take to fix a light globe? None; scientists use standard candles.

Green, in colour only Just shortly, I put lotsa green paint on. It sparkles I am green My sister got conned into helping mask off My ute was put to work as a painting stand (hung the wing from an aileron hinge) It looks good Actually, it looks like a rushed $300 paint job by an amatuer. A couple of spots where the tape has pulled the grey, will have to be brushed on. All is good.

Not in the last week of January, Bigglesworth will be in Tamworth, at the Country music Festival. Yee-Haa, All year else is fine,

Yep, Peter Garret is the only honest one there, and only at odd times. Labour will hurt the aviation industry; with high intetest rates, no-one can afford a loan for a plane.

Putting the pain into painting Things are moving quickly, Sprayed some enamel on today (first colour of a 2 part scheme) Now I don't know how you learned to spray, but my first spraying of proper paint was lying on my back under the belly with inadequate space and lighting, a cheap spray gun, paint which was really designed to be brushed, so thinning was a bit choose your own adventure and was painting grey onto grey etch primer...................................... And it turned out alright. Notice 'alright', not 'good'. But hey, so far my bill for paint is about $350 and that includes sufficient paint of both colours, primer, thinners, and a spray gun. Not Kidding. Water trap and compressor belong to Lex, but I wasn't game to use his gun, since I would have to spend ages cleaning it. So not to worry. Has anyone else used HiChem etch primer on fabric? and has anyone else had problems with the primer not likeing the glue lines? Not too bad, but glad I didn't use expensive paint. The odds and sods get painted tomorrow, ready for the 2nd colour on Monday. Will put the wings on, and do it outside. Bring on the mettallic. PS I don't blame you, Disperse. But your turn will come, and remember: about 6 months with nowhere near adequate sleep.

No time for pics nut the fuse is etch primed, and first colour should be tomorrow, still a few knick nacks to make, including finish cowling, but otherwise, all systems go. As for the canopy, have got some longer arms which should fix that up, and for the yellow sticker, will talk to the inspector before printing one off. Should be fine, knowing the inspector.

Good question, I took my cue from the regs which simply state the words, and that they have to be easy to read and in an obvious position. I was going to do them in green along with the markings for all the switches

Canopy on It took me from midday until 2:40 next morning, and it still needs a bit of finishing, but I go a sure 'nuff canopy. The reason I worked so late is because I have it on good authority that Garry took three days for the Sierra canopy, Tim and Slarti took 6 days (but most likely got a lots better job which will be thrown out when the conversion to molded comes through). And to cap it off, when I spoke to Garry earlier that day, he said I wouldn't get it done. And I work very well indeed under competition. So there it is, not the world's best canopy, but hey, all it has to do is block the wind, and maybe rain. My trick to going so much faster is simply that, while at work on a reno, I pulled up a heap of cardboard lino underlay. Perfect template material. Sit it over, trim with scissors. Throw the first one away, fold next in half to get it symmetrical etc.etc. Then make it rough fit the front bow, cut out the real one with about 10mm margin of safety (is neccessary with the different properties of polycarbonate). Put real one over, bend front bow to fit (about 20 times, lots of censored comments there) all sitting fine, RIVET. Then the tophat. Then sides, more templates for sides. Actually, I got it that symmetrical, both sides are cut to the same template. And there you have it. Nowhere in that operation did I have anyone giving me a hand at all (who would at that time of night). Then I found out the problem. Having made it flatter, the front came further forward, this means it touches when it is opened too far. so full open is not very far. Not too worry: a: it doesn't affect flying b: the molded canopy is on the way c: it could be fixed with new pivot arms d: NO FAT PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ANYWAY:laugh: So thats getting there At the moment, the undercarriage is off, and I am halfway through fabric covering the fuse. And doing the cowling simultaneously (with my other hand;)) Got some AVGAS and oil today, might get some action out of the motor soon. Sleep now:keen:

Have sent Bundy an email asking for permission

My paint is lots cheaper so that makes me happy, am worried that the fabric might need to come off, and there goes thousands of dollars of paint. Rego numbers what about this, with properly spaced numbers, and genuine font. [ATTACH]4190.vB[/ATTACH]

D*mn that is one sweet paint job, if it can be realised. 2 questions; Just how much is it going to cost, (just so I feel better about mine, in cheap enamel), and what brand/type. Also, those rego numbers are not the required distance apart "must be more than 1/4 of the width" and solid or is it that no-one cares for the regs, and I can have fun with mine. Let the funny numbers roll. Also, is that Cheetah graphic in vinyl or paint?

Dear way, DC x11 or Bose headset or similar. Comes with built in music input (stereo), not sure if it dims.

Flying high on Nitrate OK so Slarti, I have all my electronics done, and it looks like you haven't, but other than that, YOU ARE BEATING ME BIG TIME. Not to worry. Interesting thing about building a plane when you are a young bloke in a small town, everyone suddenly turns helpful. The local welding specialist welded up my muffler for nothing, I have a stack of tools on lend from various people all wanting to come for a fly. But to get to the interesting parts. I have got skins on the wings. Interesting thing happened there. ON the leading edge of one sheet, it kept developing ripples whenever the temp got below about 18 degrees. I asked Garry what the heck was going on, was told that the problem had happened to another bloke so it wasn't my fault (either that or we are both hopeless, I don't know who this other bloke is, so I won't try to guess). Anyway the only thing we could put it down to was dud fabric, and the only thing we could put the fabric down to was the metal underneath, so I glued the whole lot down and suck eggs ripples. I doped one side of each wing with 3 coats of brushed on Nitrate dope. It only wants 2 coats, but mine looked thin, so on she goes. I can't say if the dope made me high, I can't remember much of that night's work, all I know is that my camera has some interesting pictures of the moon on it:laugh: The fuse will be fun:cool: I finished my wiring, it looks like a rat did it, but cest la vie. Or, if your French, such is life, and spit out that snail:laugh: So then I could put the front deck on. Put foam under it. Picks up fuel spills, and deadens noise. Actually I didn't have any foam, so I used carpet underlay. Got the prop on. YEEHAAAAAAAAA Now I have something to kiss goodnight when I leave it :;)7:"one day we will be together for all time, but for now I must go":;)7: that sort of thing. I also put the cowling on. So, like, the plan is; put the top half on, mark it, put the bottom on to the marks, then put the top on. I can do that, sounds like fun. Yeah well, got the bottom sitting pretty, then the top starts playing funny buggers with me. started cutting bits off to try to make it fit but all to no avail, she weren't going, and that was it. So I sat down and had a good long think, trying to think of the problem on hand, and not of the fact that Carrie Underwood was on the stereo and if you have seen her you know Anyway I eventually worked out that when the twains were brought together, they magically increased in length (and puns here are in bad taste) and so I changed my plan, (and Cd) and put the halves together free, then held the whole lot in exact position, and with the other hand I drilled the new holes. And made sure I exactly picked up the old ones in the angle the cowl bolts to. So she's all on now And looks hotter than Carrie anyway.;) And now I can get the air intake in, and modify the bottom to cater for the bump that Jabiru decided to put on their motors. "The Bump in the Night":;)4: That'll do for now, and if you are wondering whether I was doing dope earlier. "I didn't inhale" :confused: I just got 2 coats on.

Flying The first Sierra is flying, and cruising at 130kts at 2750rpm. But it will get another prop which should make it better yet. Here are some more pictures, D*mn that is one sweet interior.

I got my rego numbers the other day; 5222. As in .222 the rifle favoured by roo shooters. The Triple 2 will be ready to fire soon.