MAJOR MILESTONE - I remember at the early part of the build in 2007 seeing people at this stage and only thinking how far it was ahead but here I am!
Chapter 10 of the manual and an article on the VAF forum suggested mounting the top two holes first (see mounts ready in photo 1) and a loose chapter with the FWF kit suggested mounting the bottom ones first. With a majority of two to one we mounted the top two first but we couldn't get the bottom ones in.
We looked at the geometry and my Aerosport IO-360 M2S has one central lifting lug. When you lift the engine with the top two mounts bolted the engine bottom moves forward - the opposite of the desired movement. So we mounted the bottom ones first and whilst it took a tea break and a bit of manoeuvering as the hoist was raised the top two bolts went in.
We lifted the aircraft onto three dollies (one under each wheel and one strapped to the tail to make it a peice of cake to move into and around the garage.
Big thanks to Adrian (left - owner of the hoist and my panel man at work) and Simon (centre). After their help, in a zero degree temperature with 10 kts of wind chill to add, we all enjoyed a full cooked breakfast in a local cafe to celebrate the occasion.
