Not much work done in the last two months. After doing the top end rebuild on the engine in December, took some leave in AL and LA for Christmas. January was wall to wall traveling for conferences and meetings, plus the few times I was at home the temps in the hangar were unbearable. But now with heat installed in the hangar (thanks Bob), there are no more excuses.
Well, everyone says that when you deviate from the plans it will cost you significant additional time. My decision to lower my panel and go vertical is having that impact. Installing the flap and brake handles is going to take some minor modification as well. I have spent quite a bit of time just sitting in the cockpit with the sticks in place, adjusting the throttle/mixture quadrant and now the flap and brake handles to get the ergonomics right. I think I now have the solution and will start drilling some holes. I still have to solve for the trim wheel. Right now the plan is to mount it at the bottom of the panel through the crossmember for rigidity.
I also need to reshape the top of the handles to keep from ripping the skin off my hand by the bottom of the panel every time I operate the flaps and brakes.
Flap and brake handles mounted. Need to remove the tab in the middle of the flap drive tube.
Left side flap drive block and bottom of brake handle.
