Cockpit parts, Nov. 26th, 00

I had a lot 0.032 left from a big 4 x 12 ft sheet. Just enough for instrument panel and glareshield. I made the panel-cutout per the plans. I think this is very convenient if the instruments need service - otherwise the cabling and tubing would be almost unreachable. However with this cutout the panel will become very 'flimsy'. So I decided for some stiffening flanges around the cutout.

front view

rear view, watch flange around cutout.

Cockpit furnishing

I'm (almost) sure now how to furnish the cockpit: I'll install dual sticks with right-hand stick being removable. So I'll have also center throttle and mixture. These I will mount on a small (approx. 3 inches) subpanel of 2" x 2" x 1/8" L-extrusion riveted at the bottom of the instrument panel cross tie. Probably the ignition key also goes to the subpanel. Disadvantage of the Sonex design is the flap lever at the left side, but center flap would require individual seats and probably would conflict with the spar tunnel - too much of modifications for my taste.

============================================

I hate this misfits, Nov. 15th, 00

the last two days I marked this horizontal stabilizer skin (don't laugh you fast-build-kit assemblers, I'm a hardcore builder). The third time I thought everything is perfect and I started center-punching.... All was correct, except this terrible row of seven pilot holes. I acidentally measured one side from the 1/4" edge distance line instead from of the edge itself. Now this worrying thoughts came up again... could I live with it? If I put this side at the bottom nobody would see...

What I have learned from this:

The saying 'measure twice cut (centerpunch) once is O.K. - but very often also the second measurement is as wrong as the first one.

So here's my improved advice:

before any permanent work do a ~plausibility check~. For example calculate the remaining edge distance of a row of holes then check against the markings. Or calculate the total of a number of equal spacings and check against first and last marking. Or measure both sides of a symmetrical part and check for equality etc.

So what I will do is using this skin as a template for to new (perfect) skins. And after this I may rent the template for money to all this Sonex builder in the neighbourhood ;)))

============================================

Nov. 2nd, 00 (worst month of the year :(

See my paint scheme,

============================================