After recovering everything but the fuse, lots of painting, a new instrument panel forward, and lots of other odds and ends I finally got my bird all back together enough to start doing some taxi testing. It came out at 533lbs empty. I have my conditional scheduled for Saturday and an appt with a DAR next week to be issued my AW cert. Getting close to getting this bird back in the air for the first time since 93. Stay tuned for first flight reports

Looking good, Joe!

Hey Avid:

Congrats! You have certainly worked hard and accomplished much to get to this point. Be careful with those taxi tests - Ya never know when those gusty O88 winds might get you a short hop prior to your AW cert!

Flynengr

Looks great AvidFlyer! Bet you can't wait to get rid of that paperwork anchor and get back in the sky!

I'm doing my first Conditional Inspection tomorrow. Any tips or tricks I need to know? I already have the airplane prepped and a nice book made up with a narrative and tons of pictures of the rebuild. I think I have all my bases covered but wanted to ask you guys that have been through a bunch of them for any advice before the IA shows up so I don't waste any of his $reciou$ time.

Make sure you have a Whiskey Compass (GPS doesn't count). (Even an automotive one works for this.) Have a label making machine on hand in case he wants anything labeled you might have missed.

If possible, but likely not as important, have extra safety wire and or castle nuts/cotter pins and access to appropriate AN bolts to replace anything he doesn't like.

I have a compass installed but it needs calibrated. It's about 20 degrees off. It has adjustments but I was not sure of the proper way to do that. I have the safety wire and pliers and a big plastic bin with drawers of AN hardware all laid out because I'll be shocked if he does not want to re do something in that dept. I've looked it over twice but I won't be surprised if I missed a cotter pin or safety wire somewhere. Thanks for all advice!

This is also a good thread at SC.org covering the same issue.

http://www.supercub.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=19287

I had all my pictures of the build in order. Each one of me doing the procedure required and a label under it for what I was doing and the date. He only gave them a quick look. He was interested mainly in the actual builder's log, the journal that is required. Then he said he wanted to be sure I was actually the builder, so in addition to all required paper work and checking the quality of my work, he asked me to explain to him what limited the travel of the aileron inside the wing. He also asked me to talk him through the process of establishing the washout in the wing, what it was for and how I made them equal. After looking over the plane he had me change the direction of the placement of four bolts so the head was leading and the nuts trailing.

Your post says it will be back in the air for the first time since 93. I assume you are the original builder of record and already have the repairman's certificate for this plane. If not you will need to have a qualified AP do the annual condition inspection each year because the rebuild described does not make for the 51% required.
Good looking Avid.
Good luck

I am NOT the original builder. It was built and flown 110 hours in 93 and then it changed hands a bunch of times and I finally rescued it out of a barn and recovered it and did a new instrument panel forward including, engine, cowl, prop, and all instruments and wiring. Tomorrow is my conditional inspection that an IA is performing. Next comes my meeting with a DAR. I have all the original paperwork and have already faxed him my application package.

Please update us on the condition inspection outcome.

I have a logbook entry stating I have an Airworthy aircraft!! I had a few small issues that we fixed on the spot but nothing major. I do have a question though. He said I needed a compass correction card. Upon further research a mag compass is not even required for Exp day vfr flight. I'm curious if I should mess with this or not before I meet with the DAR on Wednesday to my AW cert.

Congratulations on the certificate. Yes you do need the compass and the correction card goes with the compass. Here is the Part 91 requirement:
FAR 91 aircraft equipment required
Day VFR minimum equipment: airspeed, altimeter, compass, tachometer, fuel gauge, oil temperature, oil pressure, (gear indicator and manifold pressure)
Night VFR minimum equipment: Position lights, beacon, power source, and a flashlight. Class D airspace requires a radio while Class C and B requires radio, and an encoding transponder.
Transponder required above 10,000' in TCA, in ARSA, and above ARSA. FAR 91.413 requires the transponder to be checked and certified within the preceding 24 calendar months.

You are almost there!

Shame on me for quoting Part 91 requirements for a homebuilt experimental aircraft. Each homebuilt is issued its own special airworthiness certificate with its own operating limitations. This is often a point of confusion and your IA may have committed that also. Under the homebuilt rules, 81.30 here is the equipment list. Mine is equipped for VFR night also and has to comply with a different list of requirements this is the source of my confusion. If you have doubts call the EAA. They will get it right and you will be ready for the DAR.

http://www.periheliondesign.com/downloa ... EMENTS.pdf

That's funny I asked this question on a few other forums and that's the third time I've seen that link. I guess we all googled the same thing. Of course there is always grey area with this stuff. Per that list I don't even need it but IF I DO have it does need the card? Technically I could stick an INOP sticker on it I would think. Chances are the DAR won't even notice if has a card or not. My goal here is to leave myself open to as FEW as questions from him as possible. It's kind of like a checkride. Answer only exactly what they ask and dont' volunteer any information or open any cans of worms unless your prepared for 10 more questions on the subject.

I was issued my Airworthiness Certification and Operating Limitations today!!! The visit with the DAR was fairly uneventful. My only advice is be prepared and at least give the impression that your familiar with your airplane. He seemed pleased at my fancy three ring binder, clear plastic sleeves and fancy labels on everything. The feds like organization. Next step.. TEST FLIGHT!

Congratulations!!!! Good luck with the test flights. Hopefully everything goes well!

Good deal! When is the test flight planned?

Flynengr

Your preparation and hard work paid off. Are you test flying yourself?

Re: the compass card.

I have an automotive compass in mine as any mag compass is so affected by magnetism in the frame that it is not useable... I have a compass correction card that reads: for N steer SW, for W steer SW, for S steer SW for E steer SW . I thought I'd add a note that says "read road signs for accurate navagation"...

Congrats on the newly hatched bird - what fun you are up for!!

k