EAA Chapter 563

Zenith Cruzer s/n 11547
Build Log and Photo Album


This project will be for sale within a year.


05/11/24

1.5 hr: Paxson, Julian, Bobby, Zee, Ishan - Attach upper elevator pulley. - Practice peen forming the fin attach angles. - Continue assembling the left wing skeleton. - Have to correct factory holes in aft wing spar. - Rearrange the spark plug wires to have less overlap. - Discover missing bracket in the elevator; identify the fix. 1044 hr cummulative


05/04/24

1.5 hr: Killian, Paxson, Ishan, Wyatt, Zee, Luke, Bobby - Fabricate and install spark plug wires. - Install cooling blast tube to ignition module. - Move nearly completed right wing to end cap for storage. - Fetch and deburr the parts for the left wing skelton. Begin to assemble. - Drill and bolt stabilizer to fuselage. 1036 hr cummulative


04/27/24

2.5 hr: Paxson, Able, Adrienne, Julian 1.5 hr: Nolan, Grace, Killian - Install the shorter spark plugs wires. Align oil cooler with lines. - Discuss ECU location. - Finish riveting the right wing shut. Work on the wing tips. - Align the tailplane and pilot drill the two front bolt holes. - Finish drilling and rivet down the bottom and aft door sills. 1025 hr cummulative


04/20/24

2 hr: Able, Paxson, Nolan - Begin to rivet top wing skin. - Study how to assemble ignition wires and locations. - Discuss ECU location. - Install lines to oil cooler. 1011 hr cummulative


04/13/24

1.5 hr: Grace, Adrienne, Abel, Killian, Paxson, Ishan, Julian - Continue drilling door sills. - Install cover for fuel sender (sheet metal screws). RTV sender wires down. Final inspection: ready to close! - Rivet down upper and lower aft fuselage skins. - Install rear tie down. File down rough cast hook. - Fasten down lower elevator pulley. - Install oil cooler and lines; wrong fitting shipped with kit. - Install oil separator line. 1005 hr cummulative


04/06/24

2 hr: Killian, Wyatt, Zee, Julian 1 hr: Paxson, Ishan, Bobby - Install muffler and heat muff. Run tubing from upper cooling plenum to heat muff. - Attach oil cooler mounts. - Finally decide on location of fuel selector and fuel line runs. - Test fit fin. The bottom of it skin will have to be worked down to fit over the tailplane. - Fashion lateral reinforcing angles for both elevator pairs of pulley brackets. - Finish wiring and plumbing runs in right wing. - Continue drilling door sills. 995 hr cummulative


03/30/24

2.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Ishan - Install oil cooler bypass thermostat. - Remove exhaust pipes and install new crush gaskets. - Install elevator balance weights. - Fashion a new, angled bracket for the top elevator pulley, to increase clearance at cables crossing point. 984 hr cummulative


03/23/24

2 hr: Zee, Wyatt, Paxson, Killian, Bobby - Work on engine baffling. - Work on positioning the elevator pulleys aft: Close fit; may have to build custom brackets. - Finish wiring the wing; work on the fuel lines; nearly ready to close the wing. - Continue positioning and drilling the door sills and striker plates. 977 hr cummulative


03/16/24

2 hr: Killian, Julian, Ishan, Bobby - Install left coil, voltage regulator, and cylinder baffles. - Discuss panel layout and wiring further. - Rivet aft spar together. Continue tying down wiring runs. - Position and begin to orient tailplane. Will need to make shims. 967 hr cummulative


03/09/24

2 hr: Killian, Paxson, Julian, Ishan, Bobby - Install more trailing edge brackets for electrical and fuel lines. - Install FWF fuel lines. Replace factory line with fire sleeved line. - Install left and right mounting panels to the engine mounts. - Install right ignition coil to its mounting panel. - Start fitting right door sill. - Finish installing nutplates in the center console. - Discuss panel and avionics layout. 959 hr cummulative


03/02/24

1.5 hr: Bobby, Paxson, Killian, Nolan, Ishan - Install nut plates along top of controls tunnel. - Install last stage fuel filter to engine mount. - Install left side mounting plate to engine mount. - Sketch layout of the instrument panel. 949 hr cummulative


02/24/24

1 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Paxson, Ishan, Nolan, Bobby, Killian - Mount engine (s/n 233502) to airframe. Reverse orientation of fuselage to have room to mount tail planes. - Drill and rivet top door sills. - (slow day; few mentors) 941 hr cummulative


02/17/24

2 hr: Grace, Julian, Bobby - Install nose wheel and axle. - Sketch out the layout of the firewall components. - Refine the routing of the nav lights and magnetometer cables. Make additional brackets and install Adel clamps. - Nearly finish installing the brake lines. 934 hr cummulative


02/10/24

2 hr: Julian, Killian, Paxson, Grace, Adrienne, Ishan - Drill center console side sheets for nutplates. Need to order special plates. - Fit engine mount to engine and set compression of the rubber bushings. - Deburr, fit, and start to pilot drill the top door sills to the cabin frame. - Rivet seat bases into place. - Rivet flaperon brackets in place. - Set steering rods to correct length. Place nose wheel: must replace missing washers. 928 hr cummulative


02/03/24

1.5 hr: Adrienne, Abel, Bobby, Julian 2 hr: Paxson - Drill baggage floor to seat pans. - Begin to rivet seat pans. - Clean up bearing blocks to rudder pedals. Lube & bolt down. - Clean up bearing block on nose gear. Lube & bolt down. - Pull engine from box and begin to fit the engine mount. - Start to assemble fuel filters to their mount; missing parts. - Make more brackets for rounting electrical and fuel lines in right wing. 916 hr cummulative


01/27/24

1.5 hr: Paxson, Grace, Ishan, Nolan - Rework flaperon bracket supports. - Add extra spacers for fuel tank. - Install nose gear; a little tight yet. - Fit fuel pump's bracket to firewall. - Center console will need nutplates. Fiddle with placement of the nutplates. 908 hr cummulative


01/21/24

3 hr: Karl - Slot in forward top sheet is not centered; widen it to fit the steel tubes which pass through. - Heel Support Gussets had been left out when the Forward Angles had been riveted in yesterday. Remove rivets and re-install. 902 hr cummulative


01/20/24

1 hr: Paxson, Killian, Julian, Wyatt, Zee, Ishan - Fasten lower engine brackets to longerons. - Rivet steel cabin framing to the airframe. - Rivet firewall and forward cabin framing together. - Bolt down the lower nose gear bracket. - Fasten down parking brake valve. - Watch engine installation video; mentor for the wing assembly couldn't attend. 899 hr cummulative


01/14/24

3 hr: Ishan 4 hr: Beth - Match drill new forward top sheet to old one. - Attach forward top sheet. Fashion and attach stiffening ribs. - Drill forward top sheet to upper cabin longerons. 893 hr cummulative


01/13/24

2 hr: Julian, Ishan 3 hr: Beth - Reassemble right brake. - Finish constructing and install center console with clecos. - Cotterpin the bolts next to firewall (brake pedals). Insert firewall again. - Install new instrument panel, drill and cleco (in the correct location this time). 886 hr cummulative


01/11/24

3 hr: Beth - Final torque upper mount brackets. - Prepare countersunk screws at front of lower mount brackets. - Deburr firewall. 879 hr cummulative


01/10/24

1 hr: Beth - Drill top two bolts for engine mount at firewall. 876 hr cummulative


01/06/24

1 hr: Adrienne 2 hr: Paxson, Killian, Julian - Prepare and finish left wing root access panel. - Start left wing fuel sending unit fairing. - First routing of brake lines. - Second main wheel mounted. - Mount main gear to fuselage. - The left side calipers are binding; take off wheel to investigate. - Bolt engine mount brackets to longerons. - Drill engine mount bolt holes through firewall and into brackets. Test fit mount. 875 hr cummulative


12/30/23

0.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee - Construct mounting bracket for the parking brake valve. 868 hr cummulative


12/26/23

2.5 hr: Ishan, Beth - Finish drilling the cabin forward top skin to instrument panel. - Form and drill the two right side ribs for the top skin. 867 hr cummulative


12/23/23

2 hr: Killian 3 hr: Ishan - Brake pedal hinge was riveted with the wrong rivets. Drill out and replace with stainless. - Remove firewall and cabin sides to deburr; reassemble with top skin to firewall. - Much squirming of the firewall top skin, then finally begin drilling into firewall. 862 hr cummulative


12/16/23

2 hr: Paxson, Julian, Killian, Ishan - Cut rib for return fuel line. - Cut wing root access panel in the skin. - Assemble shock pucks on to front gear. - Finish drilling engine mount brackets. Must move a hole back, for it's too close to the end. - Thread and fasten lower plastic blocks for front gear. 857 hr cummulative


12/09/23

1.5 hr: Killian, Grace, Adrienne, Julian, Wyatt, Zee, Paxson - Begin drilling engine mount brackets. - Begin work on assembling shock nose gear. - Installing fittings on the fuel tank. - Run magnetometer wires. - Finish wheels and brakes on one side of mains. Strip cap screw head on other side: Order replacement. - Check rudder cable runs with a string. 849 hr cummulative


12/02/23

1 hr: Grace 2 hr: Julian, Paxson, Ishan, Killian - Assemble main wheels and brakes onto spring gear. - Misaligned rivet holes attaching inner seat belt bracket to main gear channel, so enlarge holes and rivet with next larger rivets. - Drill more 1/2" passage holes in rear seat channel (F11-3) for wiring and plumbing (factory gives only 6). - Finish fitting brake pedals to rudder pedals. Test fit brake cylinders and steering rods. - Right wing: Run fuel hoses and strobe and magnetometer wires. Add hole for fuel return line. - Install fuel gauge sending unit. 839 hr cummulative


11/18/23

1.5 hr: Adrienne, Abel 2.0 hr: Nolan, Paxson, Ishan, Able, Julian, Killian - fashion and attach brackets for aft spar to hold wiring and fuel line runs - drill and cleco instrument panel to the steel tube on which it rests - assemble center console - fashion main landing gear brackets, - begin assembling rudder pedals and their hinges 830 hr cummulative


11/11/23

1 hr: Nolan 1.5 hr: Ishan, Paxson, Killian, Julian, Grace, Wyatt, Zee - Brackets for wiring on trailing edge aft wing spar. - Verify all wing parts are in place. - Torque down strut attachment bolts to wing spar. - Start fitting the center console. Have to drill out rivets from bottom skin. - Notch & polish main landing gear: Ready to prime & mount. - Mount fuel sender bracket to the tank. Lay out inspection hole for same in the top skin. Flush tank. Begin fitting wiring to fuel sender. - Mark the top brackets for the top longeron to firewall mount. 815 hr cummulative


11/04/23

1.5 hr: Grace, Wyatt, Zee, Killian, Ishan, Paxson - Rivet inter-rib stiffeners to bottom of wing top skin. - Drill out and re-rivet the reinforcing plate for the magnetometer (bottom wing skin). - Fashion the last forward channel for the cabin sides. - Finish riveting the bottom skin of the cabin. - Start riveting the seat base structure to the cabin sides. - Continue work on fuel tank installation. - Begin drilling the engine mount brackets to the forward longerons. 803 hr cummulative


10/28/23

2.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Ishan 1.5 hr: Killian, Grace, Adrienne, Abel - One cabin forward channel isn't right and will be replaced. - Almost finish the riveting of the cabin belly. - Begin fitting engine mount to firewall. - Begin fitting cabin's engine mount brackets, and prepare shims for lower pair. - Finish bolting the wing strut bracket to the lower longerons (tight fit for the nuts). - Work on mounting magnetometer plate; rivets are loose and must be drilled out. - Finish fitting fuel tank to wing, and begin fitting fuel sender to the tank. 794 hr cummulative


10/21/23

2.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee 2.0 hr: Ishan 1.5 hr: Eli - Deburring wing ribs. Begin fitting the wing tank. - Almost finish forming and fitting the forward channel assemblies. - Deburr instrument panel and forward top skin. - Resume riveting of the cabin belly skins. 780 hr cummulative


10/14/23

2 hr: Luke, Killian, Paxson, Ishan, Wyatt, Zee, Adrienne, Abel, Grace - Deburr upper wing skin. Root wing skin needs a few extra rivets to repair ovaled rivet holes. - Continue making and attaching forward channel assemblies, both sides. - Work on fastening C4-8 to the belly. This should have been done earlier in the assembly! May have to use bolts. - Inventory all parts which came in the crate with the UL Power engine (received this week from Belgium). 772 hr cummulative


10/07/23

1.0 hr: Killian 1.5 hr: Adrienne 2.0 hr: Nolan 2.5 hr: Paxson, Ishan - Finish new elevator bell crank framing. - Test cables to elevator aft pulleys: We have clearance where the cables cross mid fuselage. - Back drill firewall to cabin sides. - Continue fitting forward channel assemblies to the sides of the cabin near the firewall. 754 hr cummulative


09/30/23

0.5 hr: Eli 1.0 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Killian 1.5 hr: Nolan, Adrienne 2.0 hr: Paxson, Ishan - Mount magnetometer in bottom wing skin. - Install and begin to rivet in place the new elevator bell crank assembly framework. - Rivet down belly skin, etc under right seat. - Begin to form the forward channels on the sides of the cabin aft of the firewall. 745 hr cummulative


09/23/23

(The builders worked at the benefit for the LifeLine Pilots.)


09/16/23

(Too many mentors happened to be out of town, and this session was canceled.)


09/09/23

1.0 hr: Adrian, Eli (in training) 1.5 hr: Killian, Julian, Paxson 2.5 hr: Nolan - Layout and drill up Front Cabin Frame Gussets. - Continue cutting and fitting ABS wing tips. - Drill and cleco the lateral stiffeners for the wing root skin. - Start to re-install baggage bay sheets ahead of fitting new elevator bell crank supports. 733 hr cummulative


09/02/23

2.5 hr: Nolan, Ishan 2.0 hr: Paxson 1.5 hr: Killian 0.5 hr: Eli - Rivet down the front cabin floor. - Attach and drill the cabin's steel cage. - Begin cutting out the ABS wing tips. - Drill last holes in wing root skin and form its lateral stiffeners. 724 hr cummulative


08/26/23

1.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Julian, Paxson, Isaac, Ishan 0.5 hr: Adrian (new) - Low productivity day. - Pilot holes in upper wing root skin from factory are out of place. Move holes. - Wing root angle (W6-5) is too short. Make an extension and fit it. - Beging fitting and drilling the torque tube end plate mounting. - Finish up drilling and deburring bolt and rivets holes in cabin floor near the pedals. Ready to rivet. - Brake cylinder brackets were to be riveted, but we now have (overkill) bolt holes. 715 hr cummulative


08/19/23

0.5 hr: Killian 1.0 hr: Ethan 1.5 hr: Julian, Alex, Eli 2.0 hr: Ishan, Wyatt, Zee, Luke - Updrill top skins of right wing. Begin fitting wing root assembly. - Match drill bottom longeron to cabin floor in front; use files to better align holes before finish drilling. Mistakenly drill out a bolt hole, so add another bolt hole to rudder pedals floor bracket. - Test fit new brackets to hold elevator bell crank in proper position. - Work on bracket which holds aft end of stick controls torque tube. This is in an awkard location. 706 hr cummulative


08/12/23

2 hr: Grace, Paxson, Wyatt, Zee, Ishan, Nolan, Luke 1 hr: Julian, Eli - Begin to fit top skin of right wing. Not enough clamp straps. - Fabricate, fit, and install the angles between the gear channel and the cabin sides. - Fit bases of the wing nav lights to the plastic tip pieces. - Begin to fabricate an access cover which will carry the magnetometer. - Study new Cruzer drawings to compare the changes to the elevator cables problem to the fix we have begun. 692 hr cummulative


08/05/23

2 hr: Grace, Killian, Ishan, Luke - Double check deburring and then rivet bottom skins to first wing. - Discuss systems which must be mounted inside this, the right wing: Wing tip strobe, magnetometer, fuel tank and lines. 676 hr cummulative


07/29/23

2 hr: Luke, Isaac, Zee, Wyatt - Deburr lower wing skins, spar, ribs, and stiffeners. Nearly ready to rivet. 668 hr cummulative


07/22/23

2 hr: Julian, Nolan, Isaac, Wyatt, Zee, Paxson, Killian, Ishan - Wing drilling and deburring. - Scratch head over joint between gear channel and cabin sides. Will need to make a custom piece. 660 hr cummulative


07/15/23

2 hr: Zee, Paxson, Ishan, Grace, Isaac 1.5 hr: Nolan, Ethan - Finish torquing bolts around landing gear channel. Rivet cabin sides and gear channel to aft fuselage. - Disassemble wing to begin deburring. Demo on flush mounting nut plates. Install first plate. - Study cabin drawings and guide. 644 hr cummulative


07/14/23

5 hr: Karl and (young) Karl - Remove gear channel to replace the inboard rivet of the doublers with a bolt, per the drawing. - Torque down bolts to the steel brackets at the ends of the gear channel. - Begin to rivet cabin sides to the aft fuselage. 631 hr cummulative


07/08/23

2 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Killian, Grace, Ishan - Continue wing assembly, bottom skin and fittings. - Fit bolts to steel bracket tying wing strut to lower longerons. 626 hr cummulative


07/01/23

2 hr: Ishan, Luke, Wyatt, Zee, Nolan - Continue skinning the first wing. - Study fit of control linkages in the cabin. - Review antenna mounting locations. 616 hr cummulative


06/24/23

2.5 hr: Julian, Killian, Zee, Wyatt, Paxson, Isaac - cabin deburring and reassembly - wing skins 606 hr cummulative


06/17/23

4 hr: Karl - drill and rivet gear channel doublers - install cabin sides and floor ahead of deburring 591 hr cummulative


06/17/23

2 hr: Killian, Paxson, Grace, Wyatt, Zee, Luke - reassemble and rivet wing skeleton - layout and drill last row of rivets for the seat pans - disassemble cabin floor and remove cabin sides to deburr bolt holes to landing gear bracket 587 hr cummulative


06/14/23

1 hr: Paxson, Luke - deburring wing parts 575 hr cummulative


06/10/23

2.5 hr: Grace, Isaac, Julian, Luke, Paxson, Ishan 2 hr: Nolan - assemble wing skeleton - assemble landing light bracket 573 hr cummulative


06/07/23

2.5 hr: Ishan, Paxson - assemble wing skeleton 556 hr cummulative


06/03/23

2 hr: Killian, Ishan, Julian, Paxson 1 hr: Nolan - Rivet up the two remaining flaperon sections. - Gather parts for right wing's skeleton. - Drill out first of four strap doublers between the steel bracket and the main gear channel. 551 hr cummulative


05/27/23

2 hr: Killian, Julian, Alex, Wyatt, Zee, Ishan - Assemble remaining 3 flaperon sections and and rivet up one of them. - Drill right landing gear brackets to fuselage. - Inventory parts from Stein, Aircraft Specialty, and Zenith. 542 hr cummulative


05/20/23

2 hr: Killian, Paxson, Julian, Wyatt, Zee, Ishan, Alex - Assemble remaining 3 flaperon sections. Don't have the narrow nose riveter, so stop at clecos. - Drill holes in nose wheel fork for the axle. Slightly undersize. Fiddle with adjustable reamer to fix hole. - Continue work on seat support framing in the cabin: Getting close. 530 hr cummulative


05/13/23

2 hr: Ishan, Isaac, Paxson - Rivet up first flaperon section. - Begin next flaperon section. 516 hr cummulative


05/06/23

2 hr: Grace, Ishan, Paxson, Killian - Begin drilling the steel strut attach bracket to the longerons. - Begin riveting first flaperon assembly together. Wrong riverter head used, so drill out all the rivets. 510 hr cummulative


04/29/23

1.5 hr: Julian, Killian, Zee, Paxson, Luke, Ishan - Start assembly of first flaperon. - Continue cabin assembly. - Continue discussion on what must be mounted inside the wings before those can be closed. 502 hr cummulative

Wing Internals Discussion
Pitot & Stall Warning
We will use an Angle of Attack type pitot. This will require two air tubes to the cabin. For VFR work, a heated pitot is not needed. While Van's adds a supplemental, old style stall warning system, for this simple VFR airplane, the AoA gauge should suffice.
Lighting
We'd previously agreed this plane would be suitable for night VFR work and have already purchased LED wing tip navigation lights. Zenith sells a bracket kit for such lights. They also have a $1,200 landing + taxi light kit for the Cruzer. Other sources might be as low as $500. For now, we'll install the wiring but defer the choice of lights.
Magnetometer
The somewhat less expensive Dynon avionics are what we agreed to use for this airplane. The Dynon inertial box includes a magnetometer, but they recommend a remotely mounted unit to supplement it. The wing is the usual location for such. A magnetometer should be mounted level, so the bracket must compensate for the dihedral angle, and we'll also need an inspection plate. A Skyview remote magnetometer is under $200, so we'll install one.
Fuel sumps
These will be installed per Zenith.
Antenna Discussion

It was agreed no antennas are needed in or on the wings. This started another discussion.

Communications
For an Experimental, a second radio is about $1,500 so we'll plan on installing one. The antenna can be installed on top or on the belly. Mounting bent whips below the cabin will greatly shorting and simplify the wiring, so we'll plan on installing doubler plates for those below the seats currently being assembled.
Transponder & ADS-B
The compact "lollipop" style antennas for ADS-B In and Out are cheap. We can install one of each on the belly just aft of the firewall, again to minimize wiring runs. There is also the "sharkfin" style which includes both channels but is more expensive. We chose the former style.
Navigation
With GPS, there is no need for a VFR airplane to have a VOR and its antenna. The GPS antenna is mounted on top or under the plexiglass.
ELT
This typically goes on top, oft near the fin to give it some protection. Rob is building a 750 HD and plans to put the ELT in the belly aside the existing hatch with the antenna on the roof directly above this. No one offered a better location. A cable will run GPS data from the cabin back to the ELT.

04/22/23

1.5 hr: Killian, Paxson, Grace, Wyatt, Zee, Ishan, Julian - Continue seat support fixes. - Flaperon deburring. - Discuss plumbing and wiring which will be needed inside the wing being assembled. 493 hr cummulative

Fuel System Discussion

Rob Meyer talked about the fuel system requirements for the UL Power engine selected for this project. After a discussion, the following decisions were made:


04/15/23

2.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Grace, Killian, Julian - Remove from tailer and inventory most of the wing kits. - Rearrange stacks in the hangar, and then move the fuselage to sawhorses in the space freed. - Resume work on the seat support brackets. - Begin assembly of the flaperon. 484 hr cummulative


04/08/23

1 hr: Paxson, Ishan, Nolan - Fuss with fitting the angle attachments for the seat base to the cabin sides. - Fuss with the fit of the steel main gear brackets to the airframe. - Frustrating morning over all with little to show for it. Fortunately, the wing kit arrives this coming week. 472 hr cummulative


04/01/23

1.5 hr: Zee, Wyatt, Nolan, Killian, Ishan, Paxson - (It was difficult to keep all 6 teens busy this week.) - Finish etching the fuselage sides and top. - Work on the angle brackets for the seat supports. (Argh.) - Build up nose gear fork and strut: Drill and bolt. (Photo guide calls for AN4 but prints call for AN3.) 469 hr cummulative


Sliding Seat Support Structure

It was found other builders assemble the cabin separately on a table, and the factory's assembly photo guide does this. The teens chose to do so, but this, compounded with errors in the factory drawing, has created a problem. The Rear Seat Channel mates to the main Gear Channel. In our kit, the supplied rivet holes on the Gear Channel were about 4 mm too far forward. Worse, in laying out the rivet and bolt holes in the Seat Base per drawing SSO-1, this resulted in the both the Front and Rear Seat Supports being forward. In turn, the Rear Seat Support can not attach to the cabin side member indicated in SSO-1. Extra L angle attachments must be fabricated, but because the holes in the Seat Base were drilled before its Seat Supports were fitted, and because these holes locate the Seat Supports, it's quite a pill to reach the location where the angle attachments are to go. In hindsight, an alternate assembly sequence would have been better. Attach with clecos the cabin sides to the aft fuselage. Attach the floor and its various longitudinal and lateral stiffeners. Attach the Seat Channel and Arm Rest Sides to the floor and to each other. Attach the Seat Bases to the Seat Channel and the Rear Seat Channels. The latter should be in their correct position against the aft fuselage's Side Channel (C75F4-1) to which they will eventually be riveted. Prepare new rivet holes up through the Gear Channel into the Rear Seat Channel and rivet. Add the angle attachments to the front of the Seat Channel. Remove the Seat Base and position the Rear Seat Support per the drawings. Drill and cleco the Rear Seat Support's end to the extrusion in the cabin sides, and then make the angle attachments between the Arm Rest Sides and the Rear Seat Support; drill and attach. Position the Front Seat Support 275 or 280 mm forward of the Rear Seat Support and do the angle attachments. (The drawing in SSO-1 shows a spacing of 275 for the bolt holes in the seat slider rails, but ours measured 280.) Replace the Seat Base and layout the rivet holes for both the top and bottom flanges of the Seat Support channels. Be sure the bolt hole pattern for the seat sliders is square.


03/25/23

2 hr: Grace, Wyatt, Zee, Killian, Ishan, Alex - Scotch Brite the rudder and fin for (later) painting. Start same on fuselage. - Drill brake cylinder mounts to cabin floor. - Begin to assemble cabin onto the aft fuselage. Seat bases don't align with cabin sides, so will have to fashion extra brackets. 460 hr cummulative


03/18/23

2.5 hr: Julian, Ishan 4 hr: Killian - Since the plane will most likely be painted, work began to Scotch-Brite the aluminum surface. - Drill up several rows of punched holes in the cabin floor from #40 to #20. - Drill bolts holes for the rudder pedal brackets. Layout brake cylinder mounting brackets. - Discover the seat base assemblies are crooked, and begin drilling them out for rework. 448 hr cummulative


03/11/23

1.5 hr: Killian, Paxson, Ishan, Wyatt, Zee, Nolan, Isaac, Julian - Fiddle with new elevator bell crank layout and linkage. - Begin fitting main wheels to main gear. Fit could be better. One set of brake pads binds on its ways. - Work on attaching rudder pedal assemblies to cabin floor. Factory holes are too tight a fit. - Start fitting the bearings for the control stick's torque tube. 439 hr cummulative


03/04/23

1.25 hr: Grace, Julian, Isaac, Nolan, Wyatt, Zee, Paxson, Killian 0 hr: Ishthan (learning deburring, etc) - Limited number of parts to work on today, so a bit slow. - Continue assembly of cabin floor. - Begin fitting rudder pedals to floor. - Figure out how to trim rubber shock bushing for the main gear. - Continue fitting parts for new elevator bellcrank. Craig Hittle fashions new parts for control linkage. - Deburr center console parts. - Deburr wing struts, but can't add fittings until final assembly. 427 hr cummulative


03/03/23

3 hr: Karl, Jim - Trial and error fitting of cabin sides into slots in aft fuselage. 417 hr cummulative


02/25/23

1 hr: Will 2.5 hr: Alex, Paxson, Killian, Grace, Wyatt, Zee 3 hr: Julian - Finish assembly of fire wall. - Finish fitting of the seat supports. - Finish assembly of sliding seat and frames. - Rivet most of the aft fuselage together. Includes fix of top channel deburring mistakes. - Disassemble cabin and begin to reassemble onto aft fuselage. Begin fitting main gear support structure. 411 hr cummulative


02/18/23

1.5 hr: Killian, Alex, Julian, Grace, Paxson, Wyatt, Zee - Brackets fashioned and installed on the seat supports. - Riveting of the fuselage continued. - The new top channel was match drilled to the top skin using a tool Dean Lake had machined to accurately center the drilling. Mistakes in deburring will require some of the holes to be drilled up for 3/16 rivets. 392 hr cummulative


02/11/23

2 hr: Paxson, Nolan, Wyatt, Zee, Will, Killian - Rivet up rear carry through spar. - Begin riveting seat supports. - Deburr firewall and begin riveting. 381 hr cummulative


02/04/23

1.5 hr: Grace, Nolan, Zee, Wyatt, Paxson, Killian, Julian, Alex - Seat assembly: got ahead of ourselves and will have to drill out rivets. - Front tire assembled. - Begin fitting new top channel assembly. - Discussion on wiring runs in the fuselage assembly sequence. 369 hr cummulative


01/28/23

1 hr: Paxson, Julian, Killian - Firewall match drilling and some riveting. 357 hr cummulative


01/21/23

1.5 hr: Paxson, Killian, Nolan, Isaac, Will, Alex - Long discussion on placement of antennas, ELT, bungee on the elevator cables, etc, before closing the fuselage. - Start to rivet up the sides of the fuselage. - Work on fittings on the firewall. - Strip powder coat from the nose gear strut where the rubber shock biscuits are to slide. - Further assembly of the control linkages. - Andy and Jim looked at the fit of the rear carry through spar and agree with Karl that new pieces are required. 354 hr cummulative


01/14/23

1.5 hr: Paxson, Grace, Julian, Nolan, Isaac, Zee, Wyatt, Killian - Rear carry through spar (top channel) rivet holes don't match skin. New parts are being prepared by the factory. Aft fuselage assembly is halted. - Both main gear wheels/tires assembled. - Begin fitting firewall together. - Inventory the firewall forward kit (no missing parts). - Test nose gear shock parts: Will have to remove some of the powder coating. - Fit some of the flaperon linkages. Some parts were difficult to locate in storage. 345 hr cummulative


01/07/23

2 hr: Wyatt, Zee, Grace, Will, Paxson, Killian, Julian - Prepare to rivet fuselage; ream tight holes; place pull rivets. - Reassemble baggage bay to assure it remains in alignment while riveting the rest. - Assemble rear carry through spar. Parts don't fit correctly. - Continue working on the seat support structure. - Begin assembly of main gear wheel and tire. 333 hr cummulative


12/29/22

3 hr: Grace 1.5 hr: Luke, Nolan - Steady progress on the seat framing by Grace. - Defective parts in the wheel assemblies and the rear carry through spar hindered progress by Nolan and Luke. 319 hr cummulative


12/17/22

2 hr: Will, Paxson, Zee, Grace, Wyatt, Julian, Killian - Test trim tab motor. Finish riveting the elevator/stabilizer assembly together. - Continue fitting seat pans to their supporting structure and building up the underlying structure. 313 hr cummulative


12/10/22

2.5 hr: Isaac, Paxson 1.5 hr: Will, Julian 0 hr: Grace (finished training) - Begin riveting elevator/stabilizer assembly. - Assemble both seat pans. Begin to drill and cleco their supports to the cabin floor. 299 hr cummulative


12/03/22

2 hr: Nolan, Isaac, Paxson 0 hr: Julian, Grace (both in training) - Finish wiring inside elevator, etc. - Install seat pans and their braces in the cabin. 291 hr cummulative


11/26/22

2 hr: Isaac, Nolan, Paxson, Luke, Killian - Drill elevator to hinge, disassmble, deburr, begin to reassemble. - Begin to assemble cabin section of the fuselage. 285 hr cummulative


11/19/22

Killian, Luke, Zee, Wyatt, Grant, Gracie, Julian 2.5 hr: Zee, Wyatt 2 hr: Killian 1.5 hr: Luke 0.5 hr: Julian 0 hr: Grant, Gracie - Disassmble door pillar - Finish drilling extra rivet holes in elevator. Ready to deburr. - Have newbies Grant and Gracie practice drilling, reaming, and deburring. 275 hr cummulative


11/12/22

2.5 hr: Wyatt, Nolan, Isaac 1.5 hr: Will, Killian, Luke - Continue remedial work on elevator assembly; nearly ready to disassemble and deburr. - Study assembly sequence of control rods (not obvious); remove powder coat from mixer's bearing areas, lubricate, assemble mounting brackets, and assemble the lot back in to the fuselage. 266 hr cummulative


11/05/22

2.5 hr: Nolan, Isaac, Killian 1.5 hr: Will 0 hr: Julian (had to leave early, introduced to inventory scheme) - Test wiring of the trim tab. Finish fitting last aluminum bits to elevator. - Work on flap motor mounting. 254 hr cummulative


10/29/22

1 hr: Nolan, Paxson, Luke, Killian - Discuss fuel line routing for about an hour. - Continue assembly of elevator, with discussion of wiring to trim tab. - Fit right cabin side (filing and reamer). 245 hr cummulative


10/22/22

2 hr: Paxson, Killian - Continue working on the mount for the controls mixer. - Assemble trim tab and other parts (including one replacement) on the elevator. - Lecture on electrical connections (Julian arrived in time for this). 241 hr cummulative


10/15/22

1 hr: Paxson 2 hr: Will, Nolan, Isaac, Killian - Resume work on elevator (Rob has returned). - Start to install flapperon mixer. - Finish reamering the left attach bracket of the rear carry through spar. - Start to install the reinforcing brace in the rear door posts. - Discussion of engine options. ULPower 350i selected. - Julian arrives for an introduction to the shop. He'll join us next month on the build. 237 hr cummulative


10/8/22

4 hr: Killian 2 hr: Paxson, Luke, Will 1 hr: Matthew 0.5 hr: Wyatt, Zee (training completed) - Gather and deburr cabin parts. - Store steel parts received from powder coater. - Begin fitting of flaperons mixer linkages. - Complete fitting of baggage bay pieces. 228 hr cummulative


10/01/22

1 hr: Paxson, Matthew, Nolan, Luke 3 hr: Killian 0 hr: Wyatt, Zee (training) - More baggage bay fit up. Deburr the aft tail cone and drill the rudder bracket. - Test fit cabin lower sides to tail cone. File slots on left side to better fit. Right side fits fine. 216 hr cummulative


9/24/22

2.5 hr: Paxson, Killian - Fashion clips to hold down the conduit for the trim tab wiring. - Finish fiddling with top sheet fit. Reamer A5 holes up to correct size. - Continue building up the baggage bay—lots of little parts. 209 hr cummulative


9/17/22

1.5 hr: Matthew 2 hr: Will, Paxson, Nolan 3.5 h4: Killian - Finish preparing steel parts for the powder coater. - Continue fitting parts for the baggage bay. Find the controls may be difficult to insert once the bay is riveted in. 204 hr cummulative


9/10/22

1 hr: Matthew, Luke, Will 2 hr: Paxson 4 hr: Killian - Fit h. tail brackets, which were incorrectly drilled at the factory. - Fit and deburr upper and lower baggage bay sheets, angles, and posts. - Fuselage top sheet left is too wide; begin to file/sand and fit. - Study plans trying to figure out how the above fit together. 193 hr cummulative


9/3/22

1.5 hr: Killian, Paxson, Matthew, Will - Resume work on elevator internals. - Figure out how to run elevator trim wiring bundle down the fuselage. - Assemble baggage bay back sheet. Will need to up drill some rivet holes to compensate for overly deburred skins. (Included debate as to whether this is necessary.) - Discuss with the teens engine options. 184 hr cummulative


8/27/22

2 hr: Paxson, Nolan, Matthew, Luke 4 hr: Killian - Cleco top skin of tail cone in place. Prepare baggage back and stiffeners. - Begin to break the corners of steel parts ahead of drop off at powder coater. 178 hr cummulative


8/20/22

2.5 hr: Killian, Luke, Nolan, Isaac - Deburr top skin and stiffeners; cleco. One stiffener/bracket was not fully drilled, and Rob will demonstrate the fix next week. - Cleco aft bulkheads to bottom skin. Cleco side skin assemblies to bottom skin. - Prepare rear spar carry-though and cleco. 166 hr cummulative


8/12/22

2.5 hr: Paxson 4.5 hr: Isaac 5 hr: Killian - Clean, deburr, and cleco both left and right sides of aft fuselage. Pull top side from storage and begin deburring. 156 hr cummulative


8/5/22

2 hr: Luke, Will 5 hr: Paxson - rivet belly together - collect parts for right side 144 hr cummulative


7/29/22

5 hr: Paxson, Isaac - cleco entire fuselage bottom, disassemble, deburr, clean, cleco, begin riveting 135 hr cummulative


7/22/22

1 hr: Bryce 3 hr: Will 4 hr: Paxson, Isaac, Nolan 5 hr: Killian - Lecture on deburring: Close inspection of elevator skin reveals we must double the number of rivets to compensate for the awful job of deburring. - Fit internal members of the elevator. - Finish map box; store in the attic. - Collect fuselage bottom skin parts from the attic and begin layout. Deburr bottom skin (huge burrs). Begin to cleco up on picnic tables (main build table is occupied with the delayed elevator assembly). 125 hr cummulative


Fr 7/15/22

2 hr: Mae, Carter 3 hr: Isaac, Nolan, 4 hr: Killian - Attach and drill elevator to stabilizer; deburr (not the best). Fit plastic tips to stabilizer. - Cleco, drill, and deburr instrument panel's map box: Ready to rivet once panel is available for test fit. 104 hr cummulative


Fr 07/08/22

2 hr: Afzal 3 hr: Will 4 hr: Carter 5 hr: Isaac, Nolan - Finish stabilizer skelton riveting. Rivet down second side of stabilizer skin. Drill elevator hinge into stabilizer. - Collect parts, deburr, assemble fin. 90 hr cummulative


Sa 07/02/22

1 hr (net): Paxson, Killian, Matthew, Luke, Afzal - It was decided the poor deburring was not a safety hazard (although it may affect longevity); proceeded with A4 rivets. - Rivet on half the skin of the stabilizer and prepare the front spar angle brackets. 71 hr cummulative


Fr 07/01/22

3 hr: Isaac, Nolan, Carter 4 hr: Paxson, Will 2 hr: Bryce - rivet up the stabilizer skeleton - deburr and cleco the elevator - deburr stabilizer skin; too deep in places, but factory authorized drilling up to A5 66 hr cummulative


Fr 06/24/22

3 hr: Bryce, Isaac - stabilizer: finish deburring, begin to rivet skeleton together 47 hr cummulative


Sa 06/18/22

2 hr: Will 3 hr: Matthew, Paxson, Luke - deburr horizontal stabilizer, cleco up 41 hr cummulative


Fr 06/17/22

3 hr: Nolan, Isaac - rudder completed! 30 hr cummulative


Fr 06/10/22

3 hr: Nolan, Isaac - rudder tip problems, deburring skeleton 24 hr cummulative


Tu 05/24/22

3 hr: Mae, Carter, Nolan, Isaac, Bryce - Nolan, Isaac, and Carter on the rudder skin; ran into trouble drilling the holes in the plastic top rib, drilled to A5 - Bryce and Mae on inventory (0 hr building) 18 hr cummulative


Sa 05/21/22

2 hr: Killian, Matthew, Afzal, Paxson - assemble shelving; begin inventory of Cruzer fuselage and finishing kits (0 hr building) 9 hr cummulative


Tu 04/19/22

3 hr: Carter, Nolan, Isaac - rudder skeleton finished 9 hr cummulative