Captain

Final undercoating of the fuse was done this morning. Nice result and not one blemish to be seen, except where a couple of local blowies did the 2-step before it dried. It will all come out nicely in the final sand.

Not a pin-hole to be seen.

The Holden Blimp is in town again today. Did they take over at Holbrook again Don?

Not much will be done on the J for the next couple of days as I have to get the Sailplane ready for its Form 2 for the next couple of days.

To be ready for W-O-W is all but impossible ... well this year anyway.

Regards Geoff

Captain

Had a break over this long weekend after finding, on Friday, that the super-duper etch primer and undercoat did not bond well to the perpex around the windows.

Bugger.

Have had to take that all off around the windows and redo it with perspex suitable stuff.

Now have the fuse masked up again & ready for final thin coat undercoat, hopefully tomorrow morning if the wind stays down .... and the plan is to final coat the fuselage next weekend, so have booked the best spray booth in town for that.

Started on the wings this arvo and have the 1st stage done on both of them.

Am about to go out to dinner tonight with our Accountants, who flew down today. I hope they don't ask how much a J230 costs. Might have to see if the "50 bucks" line works with them.

Regards Geoff

Good post Ross. When you look at the cost of the engines, the hours they now achieve and the number in service + the cost of a refurbishment, I reckon that they are bloody good value.

I think that the latest 3300 engines have matched length header pipes which I THINK is an update. Can anyone look at mine in the pics and confirm that? If so, Jabiru have refined the exhaust system somewhat, and from my limited exposure to the 6, it works pretty well, routinely.

In reposnse to Clem's note about the wing inspection openings, I have just been out in my shed tonight getting up to mischief with a bright torch. With the lights out you can see right through the wings with the torch below and the Jabiru's cutout marks look to be in the right spot and outboard of the rib.

If you haven't already, Ross, I suggest that you have a check using that method before you cut. Let me know how you go.

I have also tonight done the holes in the fuselage for the Transponder antenna and the UHF antenna.

Also did a heap of laser alignment checks now that the engine is on etc and it all came up spot-on .... which is nice to know, what with the offset of the engine mount and the engine itself.

Regards Geoff

Captain

You are spot-on Peter. That was pointed out to me by another illustrious member of this forum, and that's why I located my radio & transponder at the top.

Ross ... just tell her those items are each $50 on special at Aircraft Spruce and go for it. That's what the rest of us do. Some of us having beengetting away withthat for years with our toys ... and it's not really a lie when you have your fingers crossed and get her some flowers or something of equal value to your purchase ($50). Captain

Have just done a test to try to answer my own question on GPS antenna location .... as I have the same antenna in a Sailplane with the unit mounted inside a carbon-fibre instrument panel under a plastic top and it works well.

I set up the Avmap antenna and recorded the SPS signal strength, then covered the antenna with 3 layers of vinyl and 2 layers of fibreglass. The signal strengths dropped less than 1 point and as you would know they vary all the time anyway.

So my conclusion is that the antenna can go inside the panel out of the directsunlight and it should work fine.

Decision taken.

Regards to those who might be interested Geoff

I knooow Clement, my son, I knooow.

Did I say I'd have it ready for Wings-Over-Wagga 2006 or Natfly 2007 ....... or maybe W-O-W 2007?

And if I don't make it for the end of next month, Roger will come over in his new 230 and go nah, nah, nah, nah, nahhhhh, and then refuse to take me for a ride. You know what those rich bokes are like that buy factory built aircraft

Have decided that I'm going to put in some long nights next week, so am plucking up the courage to tell my wife that she will have to abstain until the wings are done.

I'll start hacking into my wings next week Ross so will give your a draw string report .............. or you'll hear me swearing in Leeton if they are not OK.

I also need to pull cables thru for the wingtip strobes, so we'll see.

Peter ... Why didn't you put your GPS antennainside the panel?

Best regards Geoff

Captain

Muffler & final pipe have been sent off to Jet-Hot Coatings for ceramic coating in an attempt to reduce the temp inside the cowl .... but have decided not to unbolt & send off the 6 headers although their surface area is probably greater.

Will post a before & after shot when I get it back in a week or so for those that might be interested in this. Ian McPhee tells me that it made a big difference to his aircraft.

Doors and other minor fibreglass items have been undercoated and have had an initial rub back.

As you can see from those pics .... I also have a wing up ready to start work on it, so that's another little milestone.

Have hit the wall a little this last week, seem to be doing lots but getting nowhere. Oh well. Onward and upward ... hopefully.

Captain

Looks nice. Isn't it interesting what each individual chooses when they have the chance to play with a dash layout and colourscheme.

It'd be boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it.

I note that it looks like that dash has the GPS antenna on the outside. Is that what it is up front behind the screen?

????? 1 - If so, does anyone know whether GPS signals have any trouble thru vinyl .... as it has noworries with fibreglass & perpex so I was going tomount mine inside the panel just under the glass. If nobody knows I'll have to do a test later this week.

????? 2 - Also does anyone know whether there is any problem mounting a UHF antenna below the aircraft, behind and within 150 mm or so of the transponder antenna ?????

Regards Geoff

Captain

Good on ya Clem.

Ears are clean ..... that feels better.

Have also done a computer enhancement of those peepers of yours in that photo. Still don't recognise ya though, so will send the pic off to the experts for further forensics..

I was competing in the US Trap Shooting Championships a couple of years ago in Dayton, Ohio and a few of the Stealths came into Vandalia Airport on a public relations mission for a series of touch and go's while they were based at Wright-Patterson. They came in about 200 ft over the trap line whichwas on Vandalia Airport. Talk about stop the shooting. 7000 competitors just stood with their jaws on the ground.

There is nothing like that profile .... and the racket they make.

At the airforce Museum at Wright-Patterson there is a Stealth on display so within a couple of hangars at that museum there is a section of the Wright Bros prop + a replica of their 1901 wind tunnel, then you can go touch a Stealth, & a Blackhawk etc. Just mind blowing.

Now .... back to the shed.

Regards Geoff Captain

Thanks Clem. Was thinking of puting tiles on the outside. What do you think?

To use an old kitbuilder's joke, I reckon I am now 85% complete and only 85% to go.

But have grown attached to the grey colourscheme of the undercoat, so have made a few changes to the traditional J230 shape and have gotten myself a haircut+ a blonde rinse.

Geeeeez it's dry around here.

Watch out Roger. When you get your new J230 and come over to Wings Over Wagga I might just sneak up on you ... although it looks like you will win the race.

Regards Geoff

Captain

Two posts in 2 days. That MUST mean progress and makes up for a few weeks when I was slack with updates.

Spent all day today superfine bogging any remaining pinholes (and before someone asks, the black speckled paint is on there tomake it easier to seewhere I have sanded)and gave the entire fuselage a dry sand.

The compressor has really had a workout over the past few weeks.

Is now ready for a wet-sand of the fuselage tomorrow by the professionals ready for their finish spraying.

Also did a final location for the panel and am about to do a final fitup of that panel.

Have just clicked thru 600 mhrs ..... so even accounting for my being slow, overly pedantic on some issues, and putting in a few instruments that are a bit of a wank (I told my wife that Winter Altimeters are $50) let me assure you all that the factory builtJ230's are bloody good value at around $95000 (if you don't want the fun/thrill of building)... as evidenced by the strength of Jabiru's order book.

Regards Geoff

Are any members of this Forum coming to Wings-Over-Wagga this year on October 27th & 28th?

Regards Geoff

G'day Stuart and thanks for your note.

Progress report - The engine is on. It's not a huge job if you have some lifting assistance, so the family got drafted last night as a condition precedent on a baked dinner.That ployworked well.

While the engine installation is no big deal it's another milestone in the build.

For those aspiring Jabiru builders, here's aworthwhile tip. Give the G-clamps a miss and get a cheap valve spring compressorlike thatshown in the pics.This keeps the engine mount washers straight so that the bolts don't bind or bend in the washers/bushes. They go straight thru and this clamp made the fit-up a breeze.

Now ....... on to rubbing back the undercoat this week, working on the wings and progressing the panel.

Captain

Thanks for that Ross. How's yours progressing as you haven't put up any pics for a while?

Had a great weekend at the Island .... except the fellow that we arehelping came off in turn 10.

[ATTACH]185[/ATTACH]

Oh well ... that's racing ... and a few also did itas well while riding home on the roadin the showers on Monday.

Now back to matters aeronautic .... rather than the low flying at PI .... the panel is back after being trimmed in town as per the pic. Looks nice, I think.

And the panel now has all of its components.

Gee Winter make a nice altimeter (I reckon).

Am wading thru the wires coming out of the Dynon to their full Jabiru sensor kit. Will show pics of that when I have them sorted.

Regards to all Geoff

Captain

Howdeee Clem.

Am hooking up an Ipod for the music thru the Xcom. No CD's for me.

Well, it's been a great day here so far and it looks like the 1st pic below.

Two professional spray painters have been here and the undercoating is finished. A few pics are shown below.

The yellow is the etch primer then 4 coats of grey Standox primer-filler, most of which will be rubbed off to get the right final finish. Now the fuse needs to sit for 7 days for the solvents tobleed off before the rubbing starts again.

The painters are raving about these Standox components. Just as well, given the price.

While this was done outside, the final spraying will be done in a booth in town.

I can now head to the Island with a clear conscience ..... although I should be starting on the wings, instead.

Captain

Fuselage is ready for undercoating .... planned for tomorrow morning if the weather is calm.

Just picked up all of the undercoating components this morning and at trade prices it was almost $2000 for the best stuff. I told my wife that the spending was about over so a slow death may follow as I shudder to think what the crash-hot 2 pack german paint will cost.

Panel is taking shape. Now waiting on the Transponder that is in the mail from Bundaberg thru this forum's shop (thanks again Ian) and the Altimeter is on the way from Winter in Germany.

Now ... off to Phillip Island for 5 days playing withbikes.

Clement made comment (since edited)about radio use at Natfly ... and while he is right that the circuit can certainly be flown there without radio & onmultiple occasions, surely Clem will agree that the non transmit use of radio, and more particularly not listening to others,reduces situational awareness under the circumstances applying at Narromine.

Did you turn your radio right off Clem, or just not broadcast?

On the times that I was on the air listening to the Unicom at Narromine it was busy but not unnecessarily congested, and reflected the number of movements in the area.

Clem is right that Blimps are "special" but there is something wrong if their operations require that an airport be closed so that they can refuel.

You blokes are spot on.

I reckon that radios give vital situational awareness and the rules for their use work well.

How anyone can choose not to use them as per the latest rules .... or at all .... isa mystery tome and MUST show either arrogance or incompetence if a radio is fitted.

Further ..... my opinion is that the RAA is in error not making radios comulsory inall aircraft. If members can't afford a basic radio then they can't really afford to fly.

How anyone could contemplate entering the circuit without a radio at Natfly is totally beyond me.

Regards Geoff Captain

Ben

I went back to the local distributors to get the info you were after and to make sure that it was correct.

Mike Pendergast has advised the following in reply:

Performance:The 200 with CSU - 118knts cruise.The 300 with CSU - 130knts cruise,both when powered with Rotax as below

Engine:Factory build Rotax 912S -100hp.Kit buildchoice of Rotax or 6 cyl Jab

Range:300 Model-621 miles.200 Model -430 miles.

Cost:The 300 Model -$125,000 and up to $170,000. The 200 Model -$91,000and up to $120,000

Kit or Factory:Both models available in various forms of kit or full factory finish.

Hope this helps.

G'day Clem

From what Logan told me about his trip across the Tasman, they werepretty cold-refuellings and the wind was blowing pretty hard at both Norfolk and Lord Howe.

From memory I think he averaged about 120 knots on the return to NZ with the westerlies on his tail.

Havn't Ultralights come a long way ... when it is "relatively" routine to cross the Tasman. I think 3 aircraft came over for the last Wing-Over-Wagga. I understand that one was direct NZ to Tassy.

Are you interested in flying (yourself) to Oshkosh next year?

Regards Geoff

Both Kit & Factory. The aircraft with the orange colouring and the fellow leaning on the wing is factory built and delivered recently.

Engines Rotax or Jabiru.

The 300 I flew at Wings Over Wagga had a 3300 Jabiru + retracts and cruised about 130 if I recall correctly.

On range I'm not sure but Logan McLean flew it over from NZ with 2 stops ... so it isn't too bad.

Re cost ... if nobody else answers, I'll find out the latest.

Hope this helps.

All windows are just about faired in as you can see in the pics. Maybe one more pass of bog on a couple just to get them absolutely perfect.

Engine arrived into Wagga today and is shown below..... geee that's a milestone and hopefully I can get the undercoat on next week so that the engine can be installed.

Panel face is off being powder coated and should be back mid week, so the final instrument fitting & wiring should also kick off next week.

It's getting more exciting every week.

See the below claim for a new altitude record.

50000 ft ain't bad in a glider.

FAI has received the following Class D (Gliders) record claim :

====================================================================

Claim number : 14043

Sub-class DO (Open Class Gliders)

General Category

Type of record : Absolute altitude

Course/location : El Calafate (Argentina)

Performance : 15447 m

Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)

Crew : ENEVOLDSON Einar

Glider : Glaser-Dirks DG-505

Date: 29.08.2006

Current record : 14 938 m (17.02.1986 - Robert R. HARRIS (1932), USA)

====================================================================

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has

been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the

record ratified (if appropriate).

See http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060829/NEWS15/608290365/1144/NEWS

Thanks for that Ian. I'll keep you well appraised thru this forum.

Geeeeeeeeeez Clem. That's over a month later than I was planning on and isquite depressing. I was wanting to have it up and running by Wings-Over-Wagga at the very latest so that the Jabiru blokes can look at any isssssssssssues ... if there are any ... while they are here. I hope you are wrong, but doubt that you ever are, seeing that you have done this yourself previously.

Are you sure that Nov 25 is the date for me, or is it perhaps the likely date when your Shuttle will get into the air, and you got 'em mixed up?

I think Ian should chuck blokes off this forum who give other chaps dates that they don't want to hear.

Oh well ........ back to the shed with the added incentive to (try to) prove Clem wrong.

Thanks fellas. Captain