J230 @ YSWG

[Ross]

Thanks for that Geoff. I shall have to price the the SS heater.

 

I had to get my steering rods shortened and rethreaded because they were too long and I am only about 5" 10"

 

Regards

 

 

[Captain]

Also, last night made some progress on a larger dia leather covered control stick, as I have big hands. You know what they say ..... Big hands, small ........................... mind (as evidenced below).

 

It is not finished and will now have umpteen coats of rodepoxy on each end.

 

Am not entirely happy with the shape, but it will do until I make a Mk II versionafterit is flying.

 

[ATTACH]352[/ATTACH]

 

Am also pleased to report that the Security Staff have made their first arrest on a charge of industrial espionage.

 

I think this may be a CT owner trying to knock off some J230 secrets. If anyone recognizes the culprit, please advise.

 

Does anyone know what Ian really looks like?

 

[ATTACH]353[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]354[/ATTACH]

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

[Ross]

Geoff

 

I see that you have been let back in the lounge room unless you have a doily and clean carpet in the workshop.

 

The detained suspect looks a bit like a red from under the bed - I can tell 'cos he has a fixed almost 1000 yard stare - not shifty eyed at all - his pupils are almostfully dilated so he's probably on drugs as well.

 

Regards

 

Ross

 

 

[Captain]

Ross

 

Following a critical peer review, and as a result of the plastic surgery with Shoe Goo, the detainee below looks more like Chucky than any CT or Tecnam owner (that I know), so our special Jabiru performance secrets (that make our aircraft so much better) are probably still safe.

 

You are right about the location of those shots. I was allowed back inside for a little while as a special treat last night .... until I applied the contact adhesiveto the leather and corkon the kitchen bench.

 

Regards Geoff (3)

 

Captain

 

 

 

[Captain]

Wide range of tasks done in the latter part of this week.

 

Some final fitup which is quite rewarding (as long asyou don't scratch any paint) but where you really can't see too much progress, ..... and final fine wet rubbing of the elevator, rudder, doors and ventral fin. which is tiring and tiresome, but where you can see the result from the filth on the floor of the shed ... and where I know/hope the result will finally show after they go into the booth tomorrow arvo. Just final masking to be done in the morning.

 

Not too bad doing all this and listening to the poms getting fixed up in Perth.

 

Comments added below each pic below.

 

[ATTACH]356[/ATTACH]

 

Rudder cable.

 

[ATTACH]357[/ATTACH]

 

Electric flap activation system.

 

[ATTACH]358[/ATTACH]

 

Lock-wiring all hose clamps.

 

[ATTACH]359[/ATTACH]

 

More lock-wiring.

 

[ATTACH]360[/ATTACH]

 

Oil breather.

 

[ATTACH]361[/ATTACH]

 

And the messy bits.

 

[ATTACH]362[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]363[/ATTACH]

 

And almost ready to start on these.

 

Regards Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ross]

It looks good Geoff - getting near the end and the beginning of the next stage - the security staff seem to have tossed in the towel.

 

What does the "Smart Tool" do.

 

Went over to Narrandera today and metChris from Wollongong about to return (drive)to the Gong after a week under Wally Rudin'stender mercies in the Tecnam.

 

Regards

 

Ross

 

 

[Captain]

G'day Ross

 

The Smart Tool makes up, somewhat, for the Dumb Builder.

 

It is just a digital level and at the moment I'musing it to get any items that I am installing (like the powermate) horizontal or vertical when installed.

 

And I also found it invaluable tocheck aileron, flap & elevator deflections in absolute figures in addition to checking them using the jigs that are in the kit.

 

How did things go with your peepers?

 

Regards Geoff

 

 

[Ross]

Hi Geoff

 

I get checked out in Wagga on 5-01-2007 then I will know more.

 

Regards

 

 

[Captain]

Assembly is continuing ... but not that much shows up in the following pics.

 

Regards Geoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Captain]

It looks like it might rain a little tonight. Five year old kids in town are petrified. See pic below and please don't begrudge me this self indulgent para as this is serious stuff. [ATTACH]368[/ATTACH]

 

Went outside to welcome the rain as soon as I had written that. It looked great from inside the house, and the view was this. [ATTACH]377[/ATTACH]. It turned out to just be a bloody dust storm without a drop of the wet stuff.

 

Wings have been substantially progressed this last week and the undersides are just about up to par. Another day or so and they'll be turned over to attack the tops, which will be much less work as the bottoms need the flap hinge brackets, the strutt fairings & aileron attachment plates etc faired in.

 

[ATTACH]369[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]370[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]371[/ATTACH]

 

Interior lining has been started. [ATTACH]372[/ATTACH]

 

EGT sensors fitted. [ATTACH]381[/ATTACH]

 

Carb Temp Sensor fitted. [ATTACH]379[/ATTACH]

 

Have also started final fitup of the panel. [ATTACH]380[/ATTACH]

 

Hope the pics show it all well enough and compliments of the season to you all.

 

Boy .... are we all going to have fun in 2007 ... or what??!! :pig: :devil: :yin_yan: :clown: :;)7: :star:

 

Geoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Roger]

Hi Geoff,

 

So close now - the whole job looks magic. You have certainly put some hours in that shed during 2006.

 

Our machine is making the trip to Avalon in March. Hopefully you have finished and can join us for a little sojourn down Mexico way! With any luck there will be a few others from around the Riverina able to make the trip.

 

So given everything been fair and equal (which it usually isnt) whats your eta for some trial runs? It would be great to come over and watch the virgin flight.

 

Cheers

 

Roger

 

ps. all the best to you & yours for the new year! Hope it give all of us some happy moments!

 

 

[Captain]

Thanks for that note Roger. And all the best to your immediate family and the "other family" (Syndicate).

 

I'm definitely off to Avalon so would love to be part of your convoy to cross the Murray Grande. Please keep me advised of your plans and I'll be there with bells on.

 

What a great March - May it's going to be, with Avalon then Narromine and then I'm flying over the Perth end April to hop over 2 of my mates who are riding their bikes over there, plus I've signed up for a fly-away to NW Aussie in May or June.

 

Re progress, I'm hoping to start the engine in a week or 2 .... and I'll then be able to give you a better idea of a completion date once that is done & the panel is proven + the wings are painted .... but I'm guessing mid-late Feb (Hope I haven't got my hand on it again with predicting that date).

 

Best regards Geoff

 

 

[Guest AusDarren]

Are you thinking of joining the convoy to Avalon From Shepparton?

 

the progress is sensational.. getting so close must be addictive to get it finished and flying.

 

I'm surprised we see you here ;-)

 

Regards,

 

AusDarren

 

 

[Captain]

Thanks for that AusDarren. I'm going to leave it up to Roger and his Syndicate. We have exchanged a couple of PM's today and prelim plan is to go down for the trade days, although they are probably Rock-Scissors-Papering again as we speak. But it's early days. When is the Shepp Convoy going into Avalon?

 

Re progress, have started on the tops of both wings. Nowhere as much work as the bottoms but still a couple of hard days to get them right, and more still to go. [ATTACH]497[/ATTACH]

 

Then more internal fitout. The seat cushion is just there for a "thinking chair". [ATTACH]494[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]495[/ATTACH]

 

VHF & UHF wiring is going in. [ATTACH]496[/ATTACH]

 

Have installed the OAT sensor.

 

Today discovered a problem with one of the EGT connections. The hole that I drilled in the exhaust pipe looks to be in a swish position BUT the clamp at the back touches the inlet pipe. BUGGER. Have arranged for a TIG welder to bring his equipment out to the house to fill the hole later this week and I should be able to then complete all EGT's. Why is it always the last one that stuffs up, as all the other 5 were well located?

 

Have also started to muck about with final ideas for graphics ... which will hopefully be nicely understated (some may think dull).

 

Now ... back to the shed.

 

Regards Geoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest AusDarren]

When is the Shepp Convoy going into Avalon?R

They are doing it as an Air rally over a few days with some overnight stops.

 

Starting Monday morning March 19 (straight after the Try Fly day)

 

Arriving at Avalon on Wed March 21.

 

have a peek at their website

 

http://www.unlimitedaviation.com

 

It has the itinerary and registration forms for those interested.

 

Regards,

 

AusDarren.

 

 

[Captain]

Sorry to hear about the outcome up at Gunning. What a bugger.

 

When I looked at the following pics it appears that not much has happened .... yet I've been flat out on fitting out the fuselage every day since the last post.

 

The multitude of sensors for the Dynon system adds a fair bit to the fitout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Captain]

Wings are starting to look reasonable. [ATTACH]970[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]971[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]972[/ATTACH] and so is that little pointy bit that goes up the front. [ATTACH]973[/ATTACH]

 

Progress on these items has been slow as it has been super hot in the shed over this past week or two and the insects have a field day if I try it at night.

 

Wiring is progressing. Glad I don't have a spaghetti phobia.

 

[ATTACH]974[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]975[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]976[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]977[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]978[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]979[/ATTACH]

 

Having all of the Dynon systems to install adds a lot of work at this stage as it adds about 600 % more bits to fiddle with, what with 6 EGT's, 6 CHT's carb temp etc etc. Hope it's worth it ..... and hope I have got it right.

 

All wiring in the engine bay is about there and installed in its place but will not be finally clipped into place until it has all been tested - hopefully next week once the Dynon is in there. Will be fitting chafing pieces around the engine mounts before finally installing the zip ties, as there are examples of severe vibration chafing around on this type of tubing on other aircraft and in motorsport.

 

What did we do before cable ties? This would have been a bugger of a job when using fencing wire.

 

Regards to all. Geoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Captain]

The compressor went US late today and it's hard to get service on Stray-Ya Day, so played with the instruments for a change of scene. Have fired up the Dynon and below are a few typical pages.

 

Some sensors not yet calibrated or connected. (It's not really that cold around here at the moment).

 

(Roger ..... was that your machine over here today playing Dodge-'ems with the REX & Qantas RPT services about mid-morning?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Admin]

Hey Cap't - how do you think you will go getting use to the dynon readouts compared to the old steam gauges - this is what has been worrying me

 

 

[Captain]

Ian

 

One of the things I have done this evening is calibrate all readouts for my case and delete the items from the pages that I don't need (such as that useless water temp reading etc ... you know) and I must say that I like the overall readout and the logic of the operation of the unit.

 

One of the advantages (I reckon) is that it is all in front of you and you don't need to look across at the other side of the panel at various gauges that are not angled at you (in the std panel).

 

As you would be aware, one other key point, in my evaluation, is that each sensor will alarm via a light and audible signal and all alarm settings are owner adjustable. Items not on the page in use will also alarm themselves to the fore.

 

The 1st pic is what I plan to use for normal cruise flight .... but the 2nd pic is what I have configured for engine start + it can be brought up with the push of one button at any time.

 

I like it but maybe I am not totally objective as I have about 7000 reasons to like it.

 

What have you got in your newie ........ and does the Gazelle feel like a "woman scorned" at the moment?

 

Regards Geoff

 

 

[Captain]

Ian

 

I should add that I have only deleted the engine analogue gauges and have kept analogue Alt, ASI, Tacho & VSI although all of those items are shown on the Dynon screen..... just in case the electronic screen does a whoopsie.

 

Those 4 duplicated gauges should be enough to get to the destination if it does.

 

Speaking with Roger and his syndicate members, they LUV their Dynon 100.

 

Geoff

 

 

[slartibartfast]

It gets really cold 'round your way at night Geoff.

 

-43C !

 

I thought Canberra was cold.

 

 

[Captain]

Yes Ross. And No 3 cylinder may be running a tad rich too. Talk about shock cooling?

 

 

[Admin]

Geoff

 

I've got both the 100 and 120 dynons

 

http://www.recreationalflying.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1177&d=1169842015

 

and I am yet to have a look at the whole thing but I have always been a steam gauge type of person and whilst I believe the Dynons are more powerful in terms of available information and as you say the alarms etc I think it will take a little while for me to get use to them.

 

My old CT had the Rotax FlyDat system and I didn't like it due to digital readouts flickering all over the place e.g. rpm changing every 0.5 sec until it settled unlike a steam gauge which is a lot smoother.

 

I have been told that once you get use to the Dynons you will never go back which is why I elected to get them.

 

Have you got floats in your fuel tanks so you can use the fuel levels in the Dynon or just fuel usage which you have to reset each time you fuel up. The only thing missing in the CT is this as their fuel level gauges are pretty shocking - 4" bent plastic tube at the top left and right of the cabin that is really hard to read or get an accurate fuel remaining level.

 

And yeah, my Gazelle is going to feel like she has been left out as I am leaving her up here at Port Macquarie for the club to use - they want to evaluate the need for a 2nd training aircraft so the Gazelle will give them the opportunity to find out for sure without having to commit to anything just yet.

 

 

[Captain]

Ian

 

I didn't see that pic of your new layout. Sorry, should have looked before asking.

 

I reckon you'll love it and will be interested to hear your comments once you are using those displays regularly.

 

With the 230 panel being pretty compact, and also wanting a moving map, I thought that the Flightdek 180 was just the berries for me and so far it has proven to be the case. It remains to be seen whether I crave the full screen EFIS display or am happy with the 1st pic in my post of the screens.

 

I see that you have not put an analogue tach or VSI in there and that is the main difference between the set-ups ... apart from the layout difference where I have put all the analogue gauges, radio & transponder etc across the top of the panel & have gone for 57 mm dia for all of them.

 

Have not installed tank level sensors. I had Flowscan fuel flow meters in several cruisers over the years where I also didn't want more holes or "stuff" bouncing around in the fuel tanks. I find that once the Flowscans are calibrated after the 1st few fills they give good reliable readouts of fuel used and I therefore opted to use the Dynon's fuel calc system for "fuel remaining". I suspect that this is more accurate than a gauge of fuel quantity when the Flowscan is subtracting from full tanks of known quantity. Not so good when the tanks are only partially filled but I don't normally do that anyway. Do you? It is just 1 or 2 button presses to reset fuel after each fill and that looked OK to me.

 

Attached are a couple of pics of the level gauges that Jabiru supply for mine. I reckon they will do the trick when used with the fuel computer ... but we'll see.

 

Regards Geoff