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Jims Web Site
Welcome to my web site. I hope to add construction details on a fairly regular basis. Since I am retired, I can probably devote more time to the project than if I were not. Hopefully, this will mean a fairly reasonable rate of progress. I noted somewhere that Zenith predicts a 450 hour airframe construction for an inexperienced builder. This will be my first kit, although I have some background with aircraft, holding an A&P and IA. It will be interesting to see how my time compares with their estimate. One thing is certain: when the airframe is done, there is still avionics to be installed, paint or trim, an engine overhaul (I have a runout O200) and installation, plus flight test. It's going to take at least 450 hours, and probably a lot more. Construction of this aircraft started in my head, perhaps as much as a year and a half ago (April, 2007). I finally talked myself into the project, and picked up the kit on November 14, 2008. Actual construction began four days later. While I will do a degree of personalization, I will likely stay reasonably close to the tried and proven. I do hope to do some weight reduction, perhaps by using trim rather than full paint, etc etc. ========================================================== August 14, 2010 It's about time to update these comments. It's been seven months since I received the mod kit. I got the fuselage part of it installed, and continued work on the rest of the fuselage. The canopy installation has been a bear. I'm convinced that the aft canopy support cannot allow the canopy to make a good seal fuselage, as it is presently designed, unless it holds the canopy frame at an angle. That makes it harder for the canopy lock to work correctly. I finally installed it so the lock would work correctly, and will fabricate a small closeout under the canopy, so it fits snugly. The finishing details are taking a lot of time. I'm working under the panel, routing the wiring so it does not interfere with the controls. I'm guessing this will be done by the end of August, and that I can then install the canopy permanently. Details, details, details. Will I be ready to do a flight test next spring? Time will tell.
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