|
| |
Sunday 4th November
So today's job was to take the sail back off the wing frame, and re-fit it so
the hang point was outside the wing.
Hours effort: 5
 |
It actually only took me 20 minutes to reroute the keel, as
I was able to leave the wing-tips connected, and simply slide the sail
back down the folded wings. However, I then discovered I had the nylon
block upon which the hang bracket mounts on backwards too - this is an
easy one to get wrong, as the holes are slightly different sizes. Fixing
this meant removing the rear hang-point adjuster, the kingpost mount, and
the rear swan-neck receiver - plus the little prop-tape protectors fitted
to the keel. Fortunately, prop-tape sticks to alloy unbelievably well, as
this is the 2nd time I've had to take them off, and they don't feel sticky
anymore. Put them back on though and it's clear they are there to stay.
The point of the prop tape seems to be to prevent the webbing on the edges
of the sail from abrading the keel. |
 |
Fitted the A-Frame uprights too, while I had the wing
conveniently upside down.
You will have seen from yesterday's pictures that I was working on my
driveway. Well, today I shifted operations to a little bit of public
grassed land and it sure made the job easier, as I wasn't worried about
dirt so much. |
 |
Here's the wing, all completed except for the batten ties. I
ran out of light while doing those, so I just made them roughly the right
length. I'll tension them properly when I take the plane to the airfield
for it's final inspection.
The people in that row of houses were fascinated by what I was doing! |
 |
One chap asked me if it was some kind of kite!
The only problem I had today was that I just could not get the front
swan-neck on the flying wires to engage. Even with my son helping, it came
up a quarter of an inch short. Got around it by removing the rear flying
wire to keel bracket, which has two holes, and using the back hole instead
of the front. This is contrary to the assembly notes, so I will check with
Flylight that it's OK.
I suspect after the wing has been flown a couple of times, I'll be able
to move the bracket back to the original mount point - but it's all very
new, and hence tight, at the moment. |
 |
The reflex trimmer is fitted now too. |
 |
Finally, with the light fading fast, got the wing in it's
bag. Air Creation have thoughtfully provided carrying handles, and have
even managed to mount them in the correct place - i.e. the balance point.
I can lift the bag alone, but I'd have to limit moving it to a few
feet at a time! |
 |
Remember me saying this sport if full of top blokes? Well,
John Walter, who kindly volunteered to help me after seeing a BMAA eGroup
posting I'd made, manufactured these fuel line adapters for me out of
aluminium today, and even sent me this picture of them. They are exactly
what I need to adapt the 6mm fuel line for the 8mm fuel flow meter.
I know I've said thanks a million times in email John, but really,
thank you so much!
All that remains now is to put together some drawings of the fuel
system before and after, and submit it to the BMAA Chief Technical Officer
for approval. |
Bummer of the day
I'm so happy the wing is finished, that I don't really mind all the faffing
about I had to do with the keel and hang point.
|
