Ran the engine today - and then to my horror discovered damage to the tip of one blade afterwards. The outer edge of the P-tip scraped and a hairline crack on the inside surface. This is almost certainly due to contact with an errant tail-bracket sitting on the tail about a year ago. Discussions in progress with Lonnie Prince around how best to get the thing fixed.
And another item to go on the pre-start checklist - which I *should* have remembered from my PPL days: Condition of propeller.
Started the weekend swearing to myself that come hell or high water, *SOME* part of the gyro (no matter how small) was going to get built. And came face-to-face with the complete absence of anywhere even to attach a vise. After a few hours contemplating this depressing reality, it was time to make an assault on the space in which we parked all the stuff we couldn't fit anywhere else last April. Fortunately we have a lot of scrap material around and a brand-new skillsaw to play with.
Lights and power sockets are on their way.
Shopping: With the intent of getting the radio operational, I acquired a small twelve-volt motorcycle battery; a pleasant flow-on effect of ditching the electric pre-rotator. The unit has sufficient capacity to let the radio transmit continuously for 1 hour - and weighs only 1 kg.
Still nothing actually done on the aircraft itself. Tonight a start was made on the installation of power sockets and lights in the workshop. Am also going to have to put lights in the carport (gyroport!) too - the joys of moving to a property which has never had mains power before.
"Fiat lux."
I'm not entirely convinced that the workshop (using that term in its most charitable sense) is best viewed in bright light... and this particular endeavour is altogether too familiar.
Removed the propeller from the aircraft pending shipping back to Prince Aircraft for repair.
Starting thinking about the antenna, intending to mount it on a bracket attached to the pylon supporting the instrument pod. Then started wondering if maybe the pod itself shouldn't be moved aft. Got the aircraft off the trailer, assembled and installed the new nosewheel, reattached the rudder pedals, and then strapped myself in to umm, "explore the ergonomics of the control and instrumentation layout." The pod could definitely afford to be closer to the seat.
Shopping - replaced various sockets and drill bits that seem to have magically vanished in the move. Also managed to acquire the fibreglass mat to modify the leading edges of the tail section.
Tonight I cut the first aluminium in over 15 months - fabricated longer bearers for the instrument pod, moving it about 5 inches aft and upwards.
 Before |
 After |
Ordered a Stratomaster RV1 for use as a rotor tachometer.
Trundled down to the gyro very late after puppy class and removed the pod, to facilitate cleaning up the bearers.
Ordered a 35W TrailTech Xenon HID trail bike lamp, for use as a landing light. At the very least, anyone colliding with me head on will see an extremely bright light...
Cleaned up the upper ends of the new pod bearers with diagonal fairing cuts. Think it might be possible to mount the light forward of the pod, on the lower tip of one of the bearers - so the surplus material can stay till it definitely isn't needed. Started investigating locations to mount the voltage regulator - almost certainly one of the engine bearer struts.
Inexpertly doctored up a photo of what the panel would look like with the rotor tach installed.
Packaged up the propeller prior to shipping it off for repair in the morning.
