Assemble seats...got a prop and gear legs too!

02/04/03 - Last time out on Jan 18 I had stopped work after reassembling the first seat I put together (backwards!) and then waited to receive the missing rivet nuts shorted from my kit in order to begin assembly on the second seat.

I received the replacement rivet nuts on Friday 1/24 and could have gotten started again earlier, but our weather in the meantime has been very cold with barely a day over 35° (no real heat to speak of in my shop besides a very small electric unit) in the last three weeks, so I've spent the past couple of weeks out of the shop.

At least part of my time away from building has been spent constructively.  I managed to nail down the panel components I'm going with and even purchased a new-in-box PS Engineering Intercom unit from another Rans builder (thanks, John!) at a very nice discount.

Here's a quick look at my finalized panel choices from Chief Avionics:

The above listing contains items I am purchasing to compliment the ASI and standard engine gauges which normally come with the Coyote kit and Rotax engine package.  I could just as easily have gotten most of the above instrument items from Rans as part of my kit purchase, although I still would have had to purchase the avionics and accessories from another vendor.  Chief Avionics was the best with pricing, etc. of the four or five shops I received quotes from.

Additionally, I attended a very informative seminar last weekend in Nashville, TN put on by 'Lectric Bob (Bob Nuckolls) of the AeroElectric Connection.  Bob is a design engineer for Raytheon in Wichita, KS and carries over 40 years of experience to each of his seminars.  If you EVER have the opportunity to attend, don't miss it!  The stories alone are worth the expense.

So, I finally got back to the shop this evening for an hour and was able to put that original seat frame back into it's intended assembly orientation...here's proof:

after I'd gotten the seat frame right, I decided to go ahead and try installing the seat covers.  It was about that time the dinner bell rang and I DON'T miss too many meals, so I called it an evening.

OH, BY THE WAY...I received the long awaited GEAR LEGS and my Sensenich propeller recently too. The prop is really cool!

Here's a shot of the prop and if you look at the two dark shafts leaning in the corner, you can see the gear legs too.  Thanks Rans!

More updates soon...

Back

Last Update: 02/04/2003