Left Wing Outboard Leading Edge Complete

Long time, no update.  Rest assured, work has been progressing!

Today, after a long preparation period that involved tons of part finishing and priming (and receiving and inventorying the fuselage kit), I began final construction of the major sub-assemblies of the wings.  8 hours of work later, I completed assembly of the left wing leading edge assembly.  Tomorrow I plan to complete the right wing leading edge assembly, and possibly begin main wing top skin riveting.  Or maybe fuel tanks.

Hole cut for the stall warning system access cover.
Access cover plate doubler pre-priming
Test fit of access plate cover and doubler.
Left wing leading edge stall warning system access/inspection doubler and cover installed 6/9/2018
Left wing leading edge stall warning system access/inspection doubler and cover installed 6/9/2018
Left wing leading edge assembly and riveting in progress 6/9/2018
Left wing leading edge assembly and riveting in progress 6/9/2018
Left wing leading edge assembly and riveting in progress 6/9/2018
Completed Left Wing Outboard Leading Edge 6/9/2018
Completed Left Wing Outboard Leading Edge 6/9/2018
Completed Left Wing Outboard Leading Edge 6/9/2018
Completed Left Wing Outboard Leading Edge 6/9/2018

Fuselage Kit!

I completed the fuselage kit inventory today. Just a few discrepancies to correct. E-mail sent to Van’s, and I’ll be on my way!

 

I decided to use the Cee Bailey’s windscreen and windows, so I deleted those from the kit. Also, I deleted the Van’s aluminum heater boxes because I intend to use the stainless heater boxes.

I am very excited to begin the fuselage construction phase, but I still have some work on the wings to complete before I can really dive in! I have been making slow but steady progress on the wings, but I hope (and think) I can really accelerate things soon.

 

You’re Invited!

Open Invitation to EAA Chapter 68’s Picnic at Herron Airport!

https://www.flightsquid.com/event/3716

Please join us at Herron Airport on Saturday, June 16. This picnic will take the place of our regular monthly membership meeting for June.

Please register so we have an idea of how many to expect. If you can join the work party for picnic preparation on Friday, June 15, please register for the work party at the main registration link, below.

https://www.flightsquid.com/register/3716

We hope to see you there!

Dave
Vice President
EAA Chapter 68

More Pictures of What I Saw in Florida

I see I have been getting a lot of hits here recently.  I understand Dave Ruhf has posted a link to here on his Facebook page.  Thanks to Dave and to all of you who are visiting from his link.  As some of you know, I gave up on FB and social media in general back in 2012 or so.  I’ve found I am a lot more productive and less stressed as a result!

My best wishes to you all!

Again, please consider a donation to Aerobridge, the charity that organized the effort I took part in in Florida.  They are continuing the good work in the Caribbean, particularly in the VI and Puerto Rico.

Also, please consider Patient Airlift Services and Angel Flight East, two other worthy aviation related charities that provide medical and compassion flights to patients and their families who must travel long distances for medical treatment, but for financial or medical reasons, cannot travel via commercial airline.

 

Flooding in south Florida
Flooding in south Florida
Flooding in south Florida
A sailboat grounded in Southern Florida
Hurricane Damage on Summerland Key

Some More Pictures from Irma Relief Efforts

These are pictures that were taken by my companions on the Aerobridge effort last week in Florida.

Keys view
Approaching Summerland Key
Sunset view
N2884L at Rectrix North at Sarasota (KSRQ)
View of Miami area
View of Miami area

Connor and me at Grumpy’s in Aiken, SC
Flying in N2884L (probably OCF to LAL)
A load of goods in transport from LAL to X51 in N2884L

Pictures from the Aerobridge Relief Effort in Florida

Some pictures from the Hurricane Irma relief efforts organized by Aerobridge.  Over the last two weeks, Aerobridge has been an important part of the relief effort following Hurricane Irma, delivering supplies to affected people throughout South Florida, and especially to hard-to-reach areas in the Florida Keys.

An article at AOPA shows how a small private airstrip in the Florida Keys was used to supply people in need following the storm.

Please consider supporting Aerobridge, a worthy charity effort organizing pilots and airplanes to deliver supplies and medicines, and provide transport to people in need in the wake of natural disasters.

N2884L and a Cherokee Six at the unloading point on Summerland Key (FD51) during Hurricane Irma relief efforts, September 17, 2017
Aid collection point on Summerland Key, adjacent to Summerland Key Cove airstrip, 9/17/2017
Aid collection/distribution point at Homestead Airport, Homestead Florida (XD51) September 17, 2017
Cessna Caravan N208RB taking on supplies at Homestead, bound for Summerland Key, 9/17/2017
Unloading a Cessna Caravan at Summerland Key, 9/17/2017
N2884L and a Cherokee Six at the aid unloading point at Summerland Key Cove airstrip, Summerland Key, FL
Airplanes at the Summerland Key airstrip unloading point, 9/17/2017
Beech King Air 200 taking on fuel at Homestead FL. Transported volunteers in to Homestead.
Cherokee Six at cargo loading point at Lakeland, FL.
N208RB unloading at Summerland Key, 9/17/2017
N208RB unloading at Summerland Key, 9/17/2017, while relief pilots get some shade under the wing.
Briefing under the wing at Summerland Key, 9/17/2017
N2884L at Summerland Key, 9/17/2017

Flooding in southern Florida

 

Me preflighting N2884L at Homestead prior to flight to Sarasota, 9/16/2017
Cargo loading point at Lakeland, FL 9/17/2017
Aerobridge HQ at Lakeland Florida
A load of supplies delivered to Ocala, FL, for delivery to Homestead.

 

KSRQ-KLAL-X51-FD51-X51-FD51-KIMM-KSRQ

I will write more later but here is a summary:  we started the day in Sarasota at Rectrix Jet Center at the Sarasota Bradenton International airport, where we had landed last night and parked.  From there to the Lakeland Linder airport for a pilot briefing and our first cargo of the day.  Thence to Homewood, and onward to Summerland Key Cove.  Back to Homestead and another round trip to Summerland amd back.  We decided to fly on our way home to Imokalee.  Finally, to Sarasota.  

AIK-OCF-LAL-X51-SRQ

Today was the most I have ever flown in one day–7.4 hours in total, between five airports.  We started off the day in Aiken, South Carolina with a departure around 0700 after an early wake for a cab ride to the airport.

From there we were asked to fly to Ocala, FL (KOCF) to pick up some supplies.  We had room for about 200 lb of cargo, most of which consisted of food and toilet paper.

We carried this load to Lakeland (KLAL), where the heart of the operation is located.  Some volunteers who drove all the way from Minnesota are running things from their impressive RV.

After dropping off our personal bags at Lakeland, which allowed us to add more cargo to our trip, we filed IFR to Homestead (X51) and took to the skies again.

Cargo that is brought into Homestead is unloaded from a large number of small airplanes and then prioritized by need.  Some larger aircraft, including Cessna Caravans, then transport larger loads to the Keys airports.  It is a bit more efficient this way.

Homestead was hit hard–many aircraft were destroyed here one the ground by the hurricane.  The salvage effort is nearly complete.

A nearly brand new Cessna was tossed like a toy.


One of the Pittsburgh group had been asked to take over organizing the Homestead operation.  He agreed, but nearly collapsed from dehydration earlier today.  When we arrived at Homestead, we stuck around with him until his flying partner R (name redacted due to R’s modesty) returned from a mission to pick up donations from Boca Raton.  I helped load one of the Caravans while we waited.  When R returned, we began our departure, intending to return to Lakeland to pick up our personal bags before continuing on to Sarasota, where R is graciously putting us up in his second home in the area.

However, the early evening weather put up a blockade between us and Lakeland and I deemed it safest to fly straight to Sarasota (KRSQ) where we were to meet R.  Halfway to Lakeland, we advised ATC we wished to divert to SRQ, where we ended our flying day.

We grabbed dinner and stopped to buy toiletries that we had left behind in Lakeland and then went to R’s home, where I am writing this.  Good night!