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1994 autumn: Idea originally conceived brought on by success of GPS 1995 winter: Drawings submitted to Harry Riblett and changes made. Changed drawings submitted to Dennis Womack-Kalla for structural calculations. 1995 spring: Wing and empennage calculations completed 1995 autumn: Landing gear calculations initiated 1996 winter Landing gear calculations completed and CAD hull drawings performed. Hired cabinet maker to cut templates tor wing and empennage airfoils. 1996 spring: Fullsize prints of hull printed at blueprint company in San Antonio 1996 summer: Glued prints on MDF and cut them and trimmed them with help of Julius Junge. Moved entire project to Glendate, AZ. Made several cuts of styrofoam of empennage and developed method of gluing styrofoam together. Purchased epoxy pump and recalibrated it for use with EZpoxy 1996 autumn: Laid layers of fiberglass on empennage; began finishing process 1997 winter: Continued finishing of empennage, cut off elevator and rudder and developed hinge system 1997 spring: Developed methods of removing a portion (non-strengh areas) of the styrofoam from the empennage. Moved entire project to Altus, OK. 1997 summer: Cut out right wing and began layups of wing skin. Cutoff trailing edge and did layups on rear spar. Cut off leading edge. 1997 autumn: Did layups on main spar and fuel tank and outboard wing. 1998 winter: Cut out templates for outrigger wingtip 1998 spring: Reattached leading edge and did layups on outrigger. Began finishing process on right wing. 1998 summer: Continued finishing of right wing, a very laborious process. 1998 autumn: Moved entire project now consisting of right wing, empennage and templates on to San Antonio. Developed West epoxy system tor filling and finishing. 1999 winter: Began construction of left wing 1999 spring: Filling and finishing process moving more quickly now with left wing completed in only two months 1999 summer: Glued together styrofoam to hull and cut out using templates. Laid keel on each fuselage half using Kevlar. Built wooden table to blow canopy. Made first attempt at blowing canopy with fracture and failure. Added more wood to blowing frame and made second attempt with failure and pulling out of frame. Performed Kevlar layups on gunwale rails. Performed layups of fiberglass on hull. 1999 autumn; Began process of removing foam from inside of hull. 2000 winter : Performed layup of fiberglass on inside of hull. Finished outside of hull. 2000 spring: Began construction and layups of tail wheel spring. Purchased taflwheel from Washington State. Made third attempt to blow plexiglass canopy. This time using steel table on legs holding plastic upside down. Plexiglass boiled in oven and began smoking. 2000 sununer: Constructed right landing gear leg. Purchased Cteveland wheels and brakes. Constructed carry through structures for wings. 2000 autumn: Constructed left landing gear leg and began designing retraction mechanism. 2001 winter: Sent steel table to Tripp City, OH for Airplane Plastics to attempt to blow ft. Constructed front seats and foredeck 2001 summer: Julius Junge constructed example retraction mechanism out of wood. This exarnple was taken to Henry Whitmore for construction of final product out of linen phenolic. Pillow blocks cut out of solid Delrin for landing gear retraction mechanism. Hangar fire occurred in Hondo, TX beginning process of Increased government oversight of hangars resulting in my eviction from hangar at Stinson airport. Entire project moved to a welding shop on Presa Street. Received delivery of successful bubble canopy. Constnicted rudder pedals and connected brake cylinders using stainless steel tubing fiberglass and lastafoam and G10 sheet 2001 autumn: table constructed to hold bubble upside down. Multiple layups performed to construct fiberglass and Lastafoam frame for bubble canopy. Added more fiberglass to landing gear legs to make them stronger and stiffer. Began designing and constructing control Stick mechanism using phenolic tubing and G10 plate and G10 sheet. |