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Sonex 815 Build Logs
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Date: 7-13-2009
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Editorial
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I post stuff on the news groups that gets buried and quickly disappears. Today someone reminded me of how I got this thing flying. I took some advice from a website of a Cozy builder, Slade I think was his name. He got a Cozy, a notoriously high-build-time airplane into the air in 4 years with a full-time job. There are many Cozy websites out there documenting 7, 10, and 10+ years (and still under construction). Slade's secret? Make a list of everything you think you have to do to finish the plane. Then cross off everything that you don't need for first flight (I did this in excel, and moved the options to a different worksheet). This DOES work. Mine flew with no interior, no upholstery, no lights, no autopilot. No electric fuel gauge. No efis. No wheel pants. No carb heat, cabin heat, or extra vents in the canopy. No fancy latches or electric flaps, and very few changes from the plans. No fancy electrical system, just Aeroelectric Z-20 exactly as shown (less the capacitor). 10 months later, there's a "final / finished" seat pad, and I'm gradually working up to getting the interior side panels and stick boots (which will be the extent of the interior). I still haven't got the wheel pants installed. There won't be an autopilot, but I did put plastic tubes in the wings for light wiring, should that desire ever materialize. I spent a lot of time polishing some of it, but didn't do the wings. I may hire someone for that if I decide it's needed, but I think it looks pretty good with the dull wing and shiny fuselage. I know what paint color I want, but haven't been willing to take it out of service long enough to get that done. So keep it simple, keep it light, and don't waste time on non-first-flight options. Get it flying and see what you really use.
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