J230 @ YSWG

[Captain]

G'day All & welcome back Clem. How was Oshkosh?

 

Well I think I've made some tangible progress since my last update.

 

Doors are hung, windows are in and it's starting to look a bit aerodynamic.

 

There is still a far amount of fine tweaking to do with the doors but am getting there.

 

Also have some bogging and sanding to do around the windows to fair them in and that will complete the outside of the fuse. Hopefully will be ready to undercoat the fuselage next week and then start on the wings.

 

Am working on the panel when I get sick of the shed at night and should have that well progressed by end next week.

 

The engine & associated bits were part of the August production run & should also be here some time next week.

 

Have just clicked through 430 mhrs in my log and it's getting more exciting all the time.

 

Regards Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Thanks Geoff. You certainly have progressed well since I was last back in OZ. Youseem tohave sanded off quite a bit of gelcoat from the fuselage which probably took ages.

 

As you said I've been over at Oshkosh in Wisconsin and many other places. It's rather hot over there at the moment.

 

We (me and my significant other) headed over there almost several months ago. She's always wanted to go to Disney Land since she was little, so we did the Disney and Universal studios thing on the way through. After that, spent a week over in Vegas. Stayed at the Mirage resort which was nice. Lots to do there at night, they have the dolphins and Venetian and lots of other great attractions. I couldn't have gone home without seeing Alcatraz so we flew up to Sandiego before heading over to New York. There for a few days, did the touristy things then dropped into a mate's place in Atlanta; he's been there on a Defence contract for 5 years now. Zoomed over to Oshkosh for several days after that and took in the sights. Saw the new LSA Cessna which looks promising. Lots of other Carbon beasts from the Czechs featured prominently again.

 

After knocking that off headed down to Florida for the real reason why I actually had to go there (work!), but prior to starting, headed down for a few days to the Florida Keys. Drove down to Key Largo / Key West which you will have seen in movies such as Miami Vice and 2 Fast 2 Furious, although I drove a little more sedately than they do as I had the Mrs. on board. We were based out of Orlando, so whilst I worked on my contract for the month, the Mrs. visited Disneyworld (better than Disney Land) and the water parks and stuff to keep herself entertained. She probably spent more than I earnt, but it was good fun.

 

I was driving to Cape Canaveral daily as it's only about 55 minutes to Kennedy from Orlando. We made great progress on the contract as I was hoping and probably made more progress there in a month than we ever would have working from base back here. They (NASA) are really impressed with the development of our composites and fibres and will include some of my development on the August 25th launch of the STS-115 Atlantis. At this stage it looks like I'm heading back over there after they safely return to evaluate performance of our fibres and structure with a view to incorporate our technologies in all future launches. I can't say much more than that at the moment.

 

Back to work now. Regards, Clem.

 

Picture attached: Ultralight Flying - Florida Keys Style!

 

 

 

[Captain]

Thanks Clem. That must have been a great trip. I'd love to know more about your work& the composites& the Shuttle but I guess it's all hush-hush stuff.

 

Maybe when they get back you'll be clear to tell us more.

 

The nearest thing I can getto your level of expertiseis that I imported Space Shuttle switch guards from the US for my ignition swithes... see below.

 

Regards Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

I like those guards for the Jab, but I don't actually know if they use that particular model in the Atlantis, perhaps I could ask for you, then you could tell us about how your aircraft "uses" NASA technologies. We have several hundred switches in the Atlantis. No doubt our ones are titanium or something to save on 0.005 grams of prescious weight.

 

The composites are certainly not top secret, it would take many pages to explain what it's all about, however in lamen's terms, it doesn't give me a lot of pleasure to explain how I designed the cup holders on the new VE Commodore. That's probably the best analogy for the job. However it's great to know that you helped out in some way with something so important. Oh well, we start small and it will get much bigger.

 

Now all I have to do is shake this accent that's forming as it can get kinda embarrasing.

 

I'll have to get a part time job too to pay off my credit card. A week in Vegas alone will stretch anyone's card.

 

 

[Captain]

Thanks for that Clem.

 

Did I hear that your shuttle launch has been delayed? Does that mean that you might have to go back over there?

 

On the more mundane home-front, the panel is just about ready to be covered and painted - see pic below.

 

The doors and their windows are bogged in and will be ready to undercoat after about one more wipe with the bog.

 

The windows in the fuse will be attacked today.

 

All minor f/glass parts now rubbed back and ready for painting ... so hopefully will undercoaton the 1stcalm day next week.

 

Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Admin]

That's coming together really great Cap't - I bet you must feel proud with all the effort you've put in .

 

You will have to let me know when she takes her first flight so I can try and be there - the long drive will be worth it seeing my new CT won't be here till about Nov.

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

I'm setting Geoff a first flight date of November 25th. We'll see if he can better that.

 

Captain - I'm heading off to Florida on Monday week, subject to many things. Will let you know how it goes.

 

 

[Captain]

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

 

 

[Captain]

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest AusDarren]

Ya know.. I share your excitement..

 

just how much better would it be if it was my own dream taking such good shape..

 

I'll just keep a close eye on your progress ;)

 

Regards,

 

Darren

 

 

[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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Wow.... nice panel taking shape there very nicely!

 

Still got plenty of room for CD / DVD player with screen and TV tuner.

 

 

[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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Nice spot on the hill there Geoff...

 

 

[Ross]

Hi Geoff

 

Looks very good.

 

Regards

 

 

[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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Vigilant]

Hi Geoff

 

Great pics, I look forward to each new post. You are going to be one proud puppy when she is all together. Keep up the good work.

 

 

[Captain]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

ooohhh.... lah-de-dah with that vinyl covered panel!

 

 

[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

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

When you've finished cleaning out your ear wax, you can come back to reality.

 

The Stealth is rather impressive when you look at all of those angles that are on everything - around the windscreen, gear doors etc. Very clever.

 

I hadn't realised that you were in the service Captain!

 

Here's a pick of me in the service on a special covert of behind enemy lines. My time with the SAS (Saturday's and Sunday's) was cut short by a foot injury which be coincidence has been bothering me for the last couple of days. Seems it's cheaper for the Australian Army to shoot Paintballs rather than the UN SS109 through our trusty plastic Steyr's.

 

I'm back off to Florida next week anyway for a few days so hopefully the warmer weather will be kind to it (my foot).

 

ClemBrown

 

 

 

[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

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Bit of a change of topic, however the Melbourne Airport Pistol Club is located directly under the upwind path of one of the main runways. On takeoff you might get a 747 fly over at only 200-300 ft. I could have easily popped a .40cal in the bottom of one on so many occasions. If the travelling public only knew that a gun club was only a hundred metres away from their aircraft with guns pointing at it, I'd say they'd have the place shut down in no time flat!

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

It appears that vinyl is in this season... This is a new J430 that is yet to fly.