May 1999

May 1 - 16, 1999

Mock up instrument panel. To comply with Canadian regulations regarding night flight, flight around large airports and VFR on Top a full gyro panel is required. The instruments are as follows...

Flight:

Engine:

Nav/Com:

Wire engine compartment. Magneto P leads and Alternator output wires were shielded by slipping 1/4" tinned copper braid over the 14-16GA wire. This can be easily done and the results look quite good.

Prepare an electrical load analysis.

May 16 - 22, 1999

Sand and paint intake manifold components. High heat (1200 deg F) paint was used.

Primer fitting installed in the manifold at the "T" just behind the carb. While not at the cylinder head this location will hopefully provide sufficient priming capacity for most cold starting.

Installed a carb air temp probe in the carb just before the slide. I am using the Revmaster alternate/filtered air intake assembly to provide carb heat. This is primarily because of the limited space available under the cowl. I am uncertain this system (which draws hot air from under the oil cooler located at the bottom of the cowl) will provide sufficient heat in all phases of flight. The combination carb air temp/outside air temp gauge will allow me to closely monitor the performance of this system. If this system fails to adequately heat the carb it will be replaced with a conventional system.

Install cabin heat box on firewall. This was a store bought unit and looks very nice (even if I had to sell the family cat to those nice medical experimenters to afford it).

May 23 - 24, 1999

Fabricate cabin heat muff from .040" aluminum. The flanges are store bought but the rest is cut from a single piece and bent to shape. The cardboard template is shown in the picture to give an idea of the layout. The ends are secured to the exhaust with clamps and the split line is fastened with sheet metal screws. I felt an easily removable unit would result in more frequent inspection of the exhaust pipe.

Install OAT probe in right side of fuse just ahead of instrument panel.

Install starter and magneto.

May 25 - 28, 1999

Gave some guy $50.00 to ruin my exhaust system. Actually the 50 was to sandblast the pipes but in the process a number of holes were put in the material. The system was likely over 10 years old and being mild steel I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Considering how dangerous an exhaust leak in an airplane can be I'm not disappointed to be forced to buy another exhaust.