Finished the VGs and got em on the wings...













Then pulled her out to get a look in the fresh air... Been a while since she's seen the sun.

You're going to love those VGs. Too bad they didn't have them in polished!

Wow, looking good out of the hangar! This thread is gonna serve as a great reference for a lot of 180/5 pilots for some time yet.

Are you painting the leading edge? Or whats your plan with the VGs? They would look awesome in the same red as your trim.

What a really cool build. Are you getting close?

Greg,

Thanks for the awesome photos. Many times a picture really is worth a thousand words. Case in point. I too installed the same AeroLEDs in my leading edge. However, on the taxi light I had oriented the pattern horizontal vs. vertical like yours. I had felt rather smug with my install until I saw your photo. Vertical makes more sense. But I read all the directions and oriented the light to match the landing connectors. I never make mistakes (yeah right). Your picture made me go and download the install manual again from the AeroLED web site. Who was right? You was. Sheesh. There it was in plain English to orient vertical. I am proud of my work but will admit it if I make a mistake too. Thanks for saving me from the embarrassment of having a line of Gomers at a fly-in telling me how dumb I was for mounting my AeroLED sideways. I get "gomered" enough as it is.

FIXED IT:



Jim
(man, what a Gomer)

jliltd wrote:Greg,

Thanks for saving me from the embarrassment of having a line of Gomers at a fly-in telling me how dumb I was for mounting my AeroLED sideways. I get "gomered" enough as it is.

Jim
(man, what a Gomer)

I'm not sure I deserve all that praise, but thanks none the less. I'm glad the pics helped.

To daedaluscan: Yes, Im getting close!

One of the downsides of the "utility" interior is lack of places to put stuff. When Ron (Aviation Creations) did my 170, I had him make some custom map pockets for the front. When he did the seats for the Skywagon there was a bit of leather left over so I designed a bunch more custom pockets for him to sew up. Like the rest of the airplane, form follows function. The pockets are based on how I like to use the airplane. I was pretty anal with the designs sending him detailed drawings. I know he cursed my name, but Ron really stepped up and made exactly what I wanted.

Today I started to install a couple of the pockets. Below is a map pocket for the half panel up front, a small door pocket to hold a flashlight and fuel tester (you can also see the armrest he covered w/ the grey leather,) and a small pocket for the baggage door. All the pockets have the same Italian double needle stitch that the are in the front and jump seats. More to come.







Ron's become a friend over the past three years, so forgive my continued plugs... http://www.aviationscreations.com/cessnainteriors.htm

Your attention to detail is crazy, your plane is in a class of its own. Nice work!

Can you show more detail on your PTT bracket on the control yoke? Looks interesting.

This thing is amazing. I like how you've somehow managed to make it utilitarian and luxurious at the same time. Congratulations!

Oregon180 wrote:This thing is amazing. I like how you've somehow managed to make it utilitarian and luxurious at the same time. Congratulations!

Thanks bro. Thats exactly what I was aiming for.

robw56 wrote:Your attention to detail is crazy, your plane is in a class of its own. Nice work!

mate i couldnt agree more! however dont forget to give yourself some credit here as the only aircraft I would possibly consider its equal is your 170!

Since the flaps and ailerons are already painted red, I shot a coat of UTech on the flap rollers and cove edges. I just need to spend some time polishing the cove and then the flaps can go back on!





I also got all the rubber U-channel installed and the tail cone buttoned up. (from Brown Aircraft if anyone needs to source it) Almost finished!

Looking good. Red on polished alum is sweet.

Greg, looking awesome! One thing, consider loosing the arm rests. I removed mine and love the difference in feel and space.

Any updates?

Can't wait to see this beauty in the air.

Man oh man do I wish I had more substantive updates... Life/work has just been too much of a pain in the ass the past couple of weeks. Trying to get some more time so we can bang it out. So damn close... Just need to finish the polish on the undersides of the wings, then can install the flaps/ailerons. Once thats done, we just have to weigh her and bring her back in the air. So damn close.......

I know the feeling. Got my winter project out, and ran it. Only to hear a funny noise, which lead to a compression check, and then pulling the two middle cyl. Both are cracked. Sorry for the thread creep, started my own. Hope to see you flying some day soon

bigrenna wrote:Man oh man do I wish I had more substantive updates... Life/work has just been too much of a pain in the ass the past couple of weeks. Trying to get some more time so we can bang it out. So damn close... Just need to finish the polish on the undersides of the wings, then can install the flaps/ailerons. Once thats done, we just have to weigh her and bring her back in the air. So damn close.......

I feel for you...polishing the underside of wings is hard work.

Spring is springing, though...

MTV