 |
Building the wings went
quickly. You feel that you'll have the kit finished by the weekend.
|
 |
Friend Jim Clark who has helped on the
project from the beginning, posing by the fiberglass nosecone.
|
 |
The wing "sails" fit well and pull
tight. A great sense of accomplishment in a short amount of time.
|
 |
N51SC in it's home of 5 months. Convenient,
because I could work in between house projects.
|
 |
The flaps and ailerons are simple and quick.
I wish that covering them was as easy. At this rate, the plane will be
finished by the end of the month.
|
 |
Getting ready to make the 20 mile trip to
the airport.
|
 |
The vertical stabilizer is your first real
taste of what it will be like to build the fuselage.
|
 |
The only practical way to move N51SC
was to rent a flat bed truck.
|
 |
The two horizontal stabilizers are a piece
of work. Lots of engineering and bracing. Clever and VERY light.
|
 |
Down at the hanger, with the wings
installed, Chiquita just clears the walls by inches. We're talking huge!
|
 |
This is what the fuselage looks like on the
jig at the factory, which is a huge I-beam that insures incredible accuracy on the
fuselage.
|
 |
My dad standing next to what appears to be a
flyable plane. But look, ma, no engines!
|
 |
You're going to drill for the next few
months and take it ALL apart. And then . . . put it all back together again.
Son Nick, 17, slaving away.
|
 |
My control panel. K.I.S.S. I
chose a computer to handle all
engine functions. Since then I've added a gyro and a Lift Reserve
Indicator.
|
 |
The front fuselage section, upside down,
porcupine style. The spikes are clecos. You need buckets of them in three
sizes.
|
 |
Here I am in the cockpit of my 800 pound
glider, making engine noises.
|
 |
Then it all starts going back together,
piece by piece. "Why couldn't I have just left it together in the first
place?"
|
 |
My son Nick torques the factory engine
mounts as I play engine stand.
|
 |
Tail section of the fuselage. Finally,
it starts to look like an airplane. This is the moment that you've been waiting for,
where it goes back together for the final time. Like a huger erector set.
|
 |
Company founder and leader
emeritus, Phil Lockwood, checks our work. It's VERY important in a pusher
design to collect your tools when you're done!
|
 |
Progress at 500 hours. Note the low
dolly used to build the fuselage in my garage (with 6'4" head room). Center
section mounted. Not quite ready to fly.
|
 |
Jim Clark, looking over the plumbing
one last time.
|
 |
Doing a test-fit, with the vertical stab in
my driveway.
|
 |
After three FAA inspectors and hours of
additional checks, Chiquita is ready to leap into the sky.
|
 |
The gas tanks are fun to build, but make sure
to wear old, throw-away clothes. It took three attempts to seal them properly.
See the Discussion Group for helpful hints.
|
 |
Phil Lockwood likes what he sees with the
engines and rolls out onto final for a leap skyward.
|
 |
Going over the finer points of disk brakes
with my mother. She's smiling but thinks that I'm completely mad.
|
|
After Chiquita's first flight, there were
lots of smiles around.
|
 |
My daughter Amy, (then 15). We
created a child labor camp in the garage. If you don't have children, adopt a few. It
helps to complete the project.
|
 |
Tail art model, Chiquita. One of the
sexiest bananas in the skies out West.
|
 |
Amy "flying" Chiquita (N51SC)
in the Costco tent that served me so well when Chiquita outgrew my garage.
At $270, it's a steal. Why rent space when you can have it for free?
|
|
For more, see
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
