So many of you know about my tail up taxi practice flub....

Well the engine is out, wings are off and the work has begun. Over the past 3 days we have made some real headway. First off, we needed to take the BW's off in order to have better access and to allow her to fit on the trailer. Then came the wings, the Horizontal and Vertical tail fin for the drive to the doctor. My airplane does not look very pretty on the back of a trailer...
Thankfully the vertical fin had to come off as well....I had nightmares about the parade event through downtown Truckee with my logo plastered on her...




Next came about 6 hours of screw turning, wiring pulling and a whole lot of rivet removal...Just like that, the firewall is out!







We now have a long weekend. Tuesday my engine core will travel to Steve Knopp at PPonk. I am pondering his O550 conversion to be STC'd very soon, but I may end up with a 520 case or just do the Super Eagle conversion depending on what Steve thinks when he gets my core. The Wing X kit should arrive on Wednesday with the Sportsman Kit. If all goes well, the wings will go back on by weeks end. As we progress here, I will update regularly. Stay tuned...

CONTEST:
If you can guess the exact date and time (closest to) that my airplane will be completed, you will get 2 days of heli skiing and all accommodations in Cordova for a week...Guesses are limited to 5 per person (they must be shown here) and guesses will no longer be allowed as of June 5th... ...remember...YOU NEED THE DATE AND TIME

AKT

I have two questions. Will you continue the tail up taxi practice and I was wondering what your insurance will cost at next renewal.

Oh and I have the tail up taxi down pretty good now.

Tim

June 19th just in time for JC!
Edit @ 1600
ADD
July 20th @ 1500
Aug 8th @ 1630

August 1st 5:17pm, August 2nd 4:52pm, August 3rd 3:25pm, August 4th 11:00AM, August 5th 2:00pm.... i want that trip!

July 13th 2pm, July 13th 3pm, July 13th 4pm, July 13th, 5pm.

Probably a dumb question, but why did the firewall have to come off? Don't see any damage to it.

Also, now's the time to install a Steve's Aircraft Gascolator!

Take lots of pictures!

Tom

qmdv wrote:I have two questions. Will you continue the tail up taxi practice and I was wondering what your insurance will cost at next renewal.

Oh and I have the tail up taxi down pretty good now.

Tim

Yes, I will still practice the tail up taxiing for certain.

Insurance next go around??? Good question

Oregon180 wrote:July 13th 2pm, July 13th 3pm, July 13th 4pm, July 13th, 5pm.

Probably a dumb question, but why did the firewall have to come off? Don't see any damage to it.

Also, now's the time to install a Steve's Aircraft Gascolator!

Firewall came off as it was bent slightly toward the top. It was kinda cool have it off. I am betting I have close to 10lbs of dirt down by the pedals since 1953. Also changing all the hoses and lines in their along with old rusty cables, etc. She is getting a big make over...

July 26th - 4:45pm, July 27th - 5:00pm, July 30th, 1:45pm and July 30th, 3:54pm.

I'll start waxing my skis.

July 3rd @ 3pm
July 12th @ 3pm
July 13th @ 1pm
July 18th @ 3pm
July 20th @ 3pm

"The Price is Right" rules? Closest without goin over?

July 30, 4pm
July 31, 4pm
Aug 1 4pm
Aug 2 4pm
Aug 3, 10 am

Looks like a fun trip for the fat tele skis.

sep 4, 8:00 PM
sep 5, 8:00 PM
sep 6, 8:00 PM
sep 7, 8:00 PM

Sorry to be such a pessimist!


steve

OK Kevin, with enough 100 dollar bills thrown at it, i would say july 1, july 3, july 4, july 5, july 6...all at high noon...damn, heli skiing / snowmobiling in AK will totally rock...! seems quick i know, but u already have a good start for sure!

June 28th. 7:15 PM. It'll be quick.

Gump

July 30 10:53pm

I think the engine work will take the most time.... Should have that airframe ready in a couple of weeks as long as there is not any other projects being worked on at the same time.... Here are my guesses... If it is anything like my projects, it will be done on a Friday in the morning hours..

June 22nd, 10:00 AM
June 29th, 10:00 AM
July 6th, 10:00 AM
July 13th, 10:00 AM
July 20th, 10:00 AM


Brian.....

Call me and I will get you that replacement gascolator....

I'm with Brian......Nothing ever gets finished early in the week.

August 8, 3:30 pm
August 9, 3:30 pm
August 10, 3:30 pm
August 16, 3:30 pm
August 17, 3:30 pm

One other thing Kevin, now that you got the firewall off I'd make sure everything is good as new in the rudder pedal area. From personal experience all that behind the panel and pedal area stuff is a major PITA in our 53 models going in from the cabin side. Can't tell you how many screws I had to go fishing for while taking that stuff all apart and putting it back together. If I ever peel my firewall out I'm going to make sure everything has new bushings and is good and tight for another 60 years.

Flynengr

Having done this repair /modification several times the firewall removal-replacement would be on the order of 20-30 man hours. 2 drillers-riveters would take maybe 2-3 days . Removing engine /prop/mount and replacing after new firewall takes 2 more days. Hooking up all the controls/wires etc another day . The total time to complete will be limited to how much time is committed per day and parts (engine ,mount,firewall etc) to receive. If I win I will donate prize to Back Country Pilots(I don't ski) to raffle off at one of the get events .
I'd say July 10th. first flight say 8am .

Good luck Kevin, I can't wait to hear how it performs after the new upgrades.

July 2nd, 10am
July 3rd, 6pm
July 4th, 10am
July 6th, 6pm
July 7th, 10am

July 26th, 7:56PM
July 31st, 9:45PM
August 15th, 4:35PM
August 23rd, 3:45PM
September 21st, 4:30PM

You don't know how bad I want to go heli-skiing!

'Greg