Bought a partially built Just Highlander kit recently, finally got it delivered and have been working on it for the past week.

I'm super excited to experience the build process, and look forward to every chance I get to work on it! So far I've managed at least 2-3 hours each day. I can already see signs of neglect of my house and yard!

Since this project has already been started, much of my time has been spent sorting out all the parts and pieces, and going through everything that has been done to make sure its up to my standards. Going through the build manual has been somewhat confusing in places since this is a 2007 kit, but the updated online manual I get through the Just website helps alot.

I've also realized I don't have near the amount of tools I really need. That will be remedied over time with many trips to the hardware store, and many orders from Aircraft Spruce . Luckily I have access to a bunch of tools, and insight from some A&P's that I either work with or close to.

I find myself often overwhelmed with thoughts concerning the order of the build...I don't want to get stuck, or have to undo something I've already done. The manual helps somewhat with this, but leaves alot to the imagination. I often refer to the Highlander forum which is chock full of good info for building. I'm not too worried about all of that stuff though, I know I can figure it out...

Here's a few pics of what I have so far...

Delivery night, Partain transport did a good job of keeping the plane from getting damaged, but communication left alot to be desired.


On stilts


Looks like the previous owner forgot to tell me the landing gear was damaged...probably took a bolt out of the cabane strut without realiaing what would happen


Matco Brakes. May end up eliminating the co-pilot brakes, haven't decided yet


Tail section


On the gear. No, I won't be using those tiny little tires


Plenty more pics and probably stupid questions to come!!

Congrats Bart you are going to love it!

bart wrote:...... Matco Brakes. May end up eliminating the co-pilot brakes, haven't decided yet........

FWIW I removed the RH rudder pedals & control yokes from my C150TD-- not enough room for pax' feet & legs with them in (barely enough with them removed!), & easy enough to reinstall the yoke if I wanna give someone a little taste of being a pilot.
I've never built an airplane myself but have been around several homebuilt projects, here's my take on what I regarded as mistakes in the build sequence:
1) Buy or OH the engine last. I know several people who've sunk money into buying or OH'ing an engine long long before they need it. Hanging & hooking up an engine is not a huge project, leave it for last.
2) Ditto for avionics. Between now & when you get your airplane flying, state of the art is quite likely to change. Why buy the latest & greatest when they'll be "so last decade" when you fly? Next to last, just before engine.
3) I've seen people build/rebuild the wings & even hang them on the airplane long before the fuselage was finished. A wing-less fuselage is much easier to move around, work around, etc. The wings don't necesarily take up that much room hanging on a wall or in the rafters, but are bulky & can get damaged in the meantime.

Looks like a great project. Assessing what's what first really helps. I know the overwhelming feeling restoring my Stinson. Online support and research will help answer lots of questions. Keep us posted on your progress.

Sweet man. Looking forward to the updates.

Keep it light. KEEP IT LIGHT!!

This will payoff throughout the flying lifetime of the birds Get anal about lightening holes, and yes just because the factory doesn't take the time to lighten up a lot of gussetts etc. doesn't mean it is unsafe to do so. A uni-bit is your new best friend. Check with your A & P buddy to help you make those decisions, if he says that's not enough weight to matter, get another opinon.... The way I look at it is it's not lifting an extra pound or so on one flight, it's lifting that pound or so many times/everytime that adds up, having goodies is nice and we all want them, but unneeded structure is just poor workmanship. I think a lot of kit builders (unlike the scratch builders who make every part) assume they can't or shouldn't go the lightening hole route, not so. Be able to brag about how light your finished Highlander is! Less is more.

Looks like you have a great start. Took me 19 months to get my highlander built and loved ever minute of it. I just kind of followed the manual on the order of build and it worked out really good. What motor are you going to use? I have a Jabiru 3300 and so far works great. You here of all the heating problems with this engine I have had zero problems. My build lead to several hanger parties , when your buddies come over to help they are not to great at making the parts pile go down , but they sure are good a emptying the fridge. Thats ok we had a great time, makes the build more enjoyable.

Thanks for the input! I'll take any advise, as it is really the only cheap part of aviation

I'll try to keep updates on this thread, i know there's at least one interested party on this board

So far the plan is basically how Hotrod put it, thats how the book says to do it, and what makes the most sense. I've pretty much decided on the Rotax for power, although still contemplating whether or not to install the turbo.

This will be a utility type plane...no fancy interior, function only but still has to be durable and be able to wipe it down to clean it (no carpet). Exterior, I'm afraid, will not be quite as "utility" looking though. Aesthetics are important, and I'll probably go the glossy route...I know its heavier, but I'll try to save weight elswhere to make up. As far as tires go, I'll probably start with the 26" Airstreaks that I have on the 140 unless I sell it with them, in that case I'll get the 29's...still researching the tailwheel I want to use, but it will be a heavy duty bush type for sure.

For the panel I'll most likely get the Dynon skyview system as well as a comm radio and transponder, minimal steam gauges if any, I like the plug and play setup.
I'll keep you posted!

bart wrote:Thanks for the input! I'll take any advise, as it is really the only cheap part of aviation

But be careful how you apply that advice. Just could cost you even more than you expect

Nah..... Looks like your moving right along.

Welcome to the club!

Ditto on the weight control. I was pretty fanatical about it and got in at 678. Know of other fancier versions @ 100lb heavier.

Lots of Highlander help out there. PM if you have questions. You are going to have a blast building & even more fun flying it!

k

N509KC
#103

Congratulations on the build,looking forward to your progress.I am hoping to start mine in October and have decided to go with the Viking engine.

Well I have 57 hours into it now, that's just over 2.7 hours per day. Not much change compared to the original pics, I've spent a lot of time re-doing some of the previous owners work (Leonard), but that was almost expected. I'm pretty much past that point now, and anything I re-do will be my own f-ups!! It's funny, I've said out loud a number of times, "WTF Leonard?!?!"', when puzzled by his thought process, and a little pissed that I had to waste time fixing his work!! All good now, though, moving forward!!

Here's some pics:

I liked his idea of a baggage compartment extension for longer/light items, but decided to get rid of the heavy enclosure he made up, and just use a modified aft baggage panel with a triangular, reinforced access hole, in case I need the occasional need to hang a long item back there. Here is how he did it:


This is the new panel, installing the reinforcement angle on the sides


Temporarily installed...I made the new panel a bit bigger to follow the shape of the fuse. I won't be using any interior walls for the baggage compartment and wanted to give this panel a better fit against the fuselage sides. The hole on the bottom right is an access panel to the factory battery location...I'll probably move the batt forward tho.


Here's some brake work. I decided to omit the right side brakes and use a remote reservoir for the matco mc-4 brake master cyls on the pilot side. Also installing a parking brake, I think this is a "must have" for backcountry flying...or at least backcountry parking


Having to re-do all the tail flying wires, and even the alignment of the horizontal stab. The elevator was binding pretty good, after a little investigation, I figured out the trailing edge of the stab was off, causing the binding... "WTF Leonard" !!!


Wilson says, "hurry up and finish this thing"!!


More later...

Any updates on this Bart? I'm finally out of the woods on the work and family issues and am ready to take the plunge back into a plane, and the Highlander is at the top of the list.

Yeah, Bart... count me as one more interested party lurking here.
Love flying our C170B, but the Highlander is in our future for its rugged capability.
How's the progress? And, how are you finding the kit components for fit/quality/etc.?
Looking forward to your first flights,
B.R.

Pundy wrote:Any updates on this Bart? I'm finally out of the woods on the work and family issues and am ready to take the plunge back into a plane, and the Highlander is at the top of the list.

Rhymes wrote:Yeah, Bart... count me as one more interested party lurking here.
Love flying our C170B, but the Highlander is in our future for its rugged capability.
How's the progress? And, how are you finding the kit components for fit/quality/etc.?
Looking forward to your first flights,
B.R.

*****UPDATE******

Sorry to disappoint, but I sold the Highlander project. Nothing to do with kit quality or manufacturer support, I decided that I'd rather fly than build and I needed the money for the Super Cub I just bought. I have no doubts that had i finished it, that it would be a great airplane.

I'm not trying to start any debates here, but I must say, after recently getting about 12 hours of flight time in a Rans S7S, I would've had a hard time not selling the highlander for an S7S had I not gone with a super cub!!

I guess that's a good argument for getting a bit of flight time in any plane you are considering to buy, I never have flown a highlander, just based my decision on what I've read and seen on the interweb ...not too many of them around my neck of the woods. Who knows, I might have been really happy with the highlander, but all other thing being equal, I think I'd rather have a tandem arrangement for a 2 place, backcountry type airplane. That's not the only factor, but a big one for me.

Good luck with whatever you decide to buy!!

A Highlander will carry 2 people plus a lot of camping gear. Try that in an S7. If you want to haul much of anything they very quickly become a one person airplane.I'm not putting down the Rans, just pointing out a big difference between the two. I have friends with both that like them.

Just Aircraft now has their new Superstol Highlander out too and it is AMAZING for it's super short rough field capabilities.

If a person just really wants a tandem then the Highlander is not an option. I very much prefer side by side and so does my wife. When you take someone for a drive in your car do you make them sit in the back seat behind you? The visibility out of BOTH sides of my Highlander is better than any Cub I've flown in.

Ever notice how few used Highlanders are up for sale? People like 'em and keep 'em.

I'm flying my 2nd Highlander as of the last 10 months or so. It is actually going to be for sale soon because I'm about to start building us a new Superstol Highlander with the slatted wings and shock absorber landing gear.

I do sell these planes, but I flew 1500 hours and landed over 9,000 times (mostly out in the sticks) in my 1st one and totally proved to myself what a great airplane they are before I started selling them to anyone else.

Steve Henry
Wild West Aircraft 208-880-7887

taildrgfun wrote:Just Aircraft now has their new Superstol Highlander out too and it is AMAZING for it's super short rough field capabilities.

That is a seriously cool design. The auto-slats are a great idea. Really worth a look on Youtube if you have time:

A landing every 10 minutes or less on average. That's pretty impressive!

Not sure why youtube turns my vids into complete choss, but here is the vimeo link for better resolution:
I would like to see everyone on this site own one or two of these by 2016.

wyomingiswindy wrote:Not sure why youtube turns my vids into complete choss, but here is the vimeo link for better resolution:
I would like to see everyone on this site own one or two of these by 2016.

That thing sure is interesting. I'd love to build one of them one of these days!