Do y'all have any interest in a little air racer project?

[Second Air Force]

I must confess I didn't get close enough to see the Yellow Jacket Supplemental Power Units, but I'm sure they are in place.

Sorry I started this diversionary hijacking, Gary!
Scott

[Lynn Allen]

Naw, its gives him a chance to reload... Gary is the tail over at Nelson's yet??

Lynn

[retroaviation]

Not yet. Bill Coombes built a new tip for the one horizontal, which I'll probably install upon it's return from Nelson's shop. I will likely take that over to him this week.

Gary

[retroaviation]

Just a couple of pictures of the stringers installed on the left side of the airplane. I've had some issues with occasional under-the-weather-ness, so progress isn't happening as much as I'd hoped. But I'm not giving up...not yet.



And of course, Skeeter had to get in the picture too.......




I'm planning on taking the tail surfaces to Ezell Aviation today for polishing, as I need to go there for work related items anyhow. Hopefully you'll see some mirror shine on that tail stuff soon.

Gary

[ebutner]

Glad to see the awesome job you're doing. Is the cat the suppervisor?

[retroaviation]

Is the cat the suppervisor?

More like the resident radiologist. In that picture, he just finished performing a Cat-Scan.

Gary

Yeah, yeah, I know......keep your day job, Gary

[Lynn Allen]

You know with everyone talking about flying low, maybe Gary get a copy of the Door's Break on Through that way he can fly low, go fast and turn left...
Just listening to it would make anyone drop on down to the deck, ok 3'...

Lynn

[retroaviation]

Well, the fuselage is now covered with fabric. I'm nowhere near finished with the covering job, but the big part is done. All the little detail stuff remains. I'm not real happy with the results so far, so I may end up taking the knife after it. However, often times with fabric work, what looks like dung at first can clean up quite nicely. Upon my return from PRS (Pylon Racing Seminar), which I'll be at in a couple of days, I'll keep tinkering with this covering project. If things don't start looking much better, I'll just punt and start over.

I've got photos, but am just too tired/lazy to post them right now. Maybe tomorrow.

Gary

[Kyleb]

Gary, at one time, you posted that you prefer the Air-Tec process for covering. Despite my best efforts with Google, I can't find a reference to it. Can you point me in the right direction?

Also, what are the primary differences between Air-Tec and other proceses such as Stitts?

Thanks!

[retroaviation]

Kyleb,

The best I can do to describe the Air Tech process is to just give you the link to thier website... http://www.airtechcoatings.com/

However, two things come to mind when I think about using Air Tech....It's ease of use and it's weight savings. Here is a quote from the Air Tech website about the weight savings I found interesting...

"A frequently asked question from customers is how much does the coating process weigh. In truth all fabric covering processes weigh less than metal or composite and in fact this is one of the main reasons fabric was chosen in those days when horsepower was not available. AIR TECH weighs less than any other coating system:
COATING WEIGHT COMPARISON
Aprox. coating weight including fabric in oz/sq.ft.
Fabric Weight Air Tech Stits Stits Dope
5 coats - 7 coats - 12 coats - 20 coats
1.8 --- 0.7 --- 0.9 --- 1.4 --- 1.6
2.7 --- 0.8 --- 1.0 --- 1.5 --- 1.7
3.7 --- 0.9 --- 1.1 --- 1.6 --- 1.8

Aircraft

J-3 Cub
750 sq. ft.
2.7 oz fabric --- 37 lbs. --- 46 lbs. --- 69 lbs. --- 78 lbs.

The Air Tech system will weigh about 1/2 that of Dope!!!"

Gary

[retroaviation]

Oh, and rather than bore y'all with the covering process, here's a couple of pictures of how the airplane looks right now, even though I'm not finished with the process.....






Gary

[Second Air Force]

Gary,

I've got a pair of 18 foot ailerons that need covering while you've got all the stuff out!

We're glad to see you making progress, and thanks for the update.
Scott

[Django]

Looks more like an aeroplane every day!

[retroaviation]

While tinkering with more of the fuselage covering project this morning, I found a new friend (look on the ground, by the aft end of the fuselage)......




The scissors are just for scale.........




"High five!!!"



Gary

[hahnej]

Union restrictions would prevent working alongside anyone with more (or less) legs than me.....