|
MartyFeehan
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Interests: Ps. 36:7 "How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings"
This site is aimed at detailing my building the Wag Aero Sportsman 2+2 aircraft, a clone so to speek of the Piper PA-14. This site will be my online builders log available to anyone interested in building this type of aircraft or one of similar design.
Expertise: My background in this area is very broad. I am a recreational pilot, having learned to fly in college some 27 years ago. My flying has taken many starts and stops over the years. Being an Industrial Arts teacher for as many years, I have a wide range of mechanical skills. If I were to categorize any one area as an expertise, that would have to be wood working. This is partially why I selected this design; it has a wood wing.
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
10/30/2005
 Premium
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| 
So, another long pause in my updates. Well, I spent the summer building ribs, building ribs, and building ribs! Lets see, what else........ I got a good start on my spars and....... AN ENGINE!!!!!
I'll just jump into pictures. Building ribs is a lot of pieces, a lot of repeating steps over and over and a lot of glue. Nice thing was no welding in the 100 degree heat!
I also reserved my FAA registration number: N367PS. So, what is the significance? Well, you will have to grab a Bible, and go to Psalms 36:7 to find out.
First, I used a router to finish cut the plywood "D" for the ribs. Then it was cutting lots of little pieces and lots of cap strips. I decided to buy some cap strips from Aircraft Spruce as I got tired of using the planer.
Finished plywood pieces.
Using the planer to make the cap strips. This took a long time so I wound up buying about half the strips for about $50!
Lots of cutting on the band saw!
Strips ready to glue, top caps bent and ready.
Gluing the first rib, very big step. Lots to repeat, 26 for both wings plus about the same false ribs.
Lots of little parts in the bins, already made.
Lots and lots of clamps. And yes, I made the clamps from PVC pipe and dowel rods. I found the design on another builder's site.
I decided to move into the house, much cooler.
OK, this turned out to be much better than the card table in the middle of the room. Misty seemed to agree with her watchful gaze.
My helper Sandy. Ivy; our older dog; slept most of the time.
Three a day was the rate of production. Each rib took about two hours with 4 hours drying time. Do the math, long days! Ann was with her Mom so I worked very long days.
Family pictures that I placed inside one of the ribs as a kind of time capsule. I've done this on many projects over the years, kind of my signature that no one is likely to see. I know it is there.
Preparing to cover up forever ........ I hope.
Typical shot of gluing on plywood. Some of the ribs are plated with ply of various sizes depending on location in the wing.
More plywood plates.
Next, bending cap strips for the false ribs. I used the same method for the full cap strips. The jig was right out of one of the EAA books. The false ribs are only the "D" plywood with some cap strip material and gussets. They go between the full ribs stopping at the spar. That's why the name, false rib.
Gluing up the false ribs.
After removing from the jig, the gussets had to be glued on the other side. I had to do the same step on each full rib also. Lots of time but I watched a lot of TV as I glued wood together.
I took a day off and took my granddaughter Nayeli to her first air show. What fun.
Nayeli, just three years old, helped me build some false ribs in her dining room the afternoon of the air show. The air show was only an hour from her house. The parts she glued will be included in my wings as is. That kind of freaked out her Mom, Rhiannon just a bit!
And finally, all the ribs for both wings are finished and hung from the wall in the guest room. Guess what the theme of the guest room is?????
Next, the spars. I bought the wood in Washington State in 2005 and have stored it since. I planed down the wood, and needed to glue one of the spars from three pieces. The others are about ready. I should start assembling the wings in a few weeks. Then a side step to get an engine.
I was able to help remove the engine from my friend Eric's Piper Tri Pacer. The engine is a 135hp Lyc. O290 D2. Eric is upgrading to a larger engine for the type of flying he needs to do. He made me a great offer on the engine. He just flew round trip to Oshkosh (40+) hours with no problems. We did a compression test, than pickled the engine for the two or so years until I need it. I can simply bolt it up, hook it up, and start it. This will not only save me $$$ but as important (or more maybe) save me lots of time. I took a bunch of pictures of the removal so installation will be much easier.
Ready to take home. My trash trailer sure has hauled lots of interesting stuff. If only we had left the prop on we could have driven home like a Florida Air boat! OK. well not!
The engine is now safely at home! Next step will be moving the fuselage to my classroom so I can assemble the wings! Stay tuned!
By the way, a hint about my "N" number: it's part of my profile here on xanga.
| | |
| Die Springs ........ v2.0. I spent some time over the past week or so making parts for my second set of die springs. The first set I made are now cut into pieces to remove the springs. Other than the spring removal issue, I also did not like the bushings as installed. I will be increasing from a 7/16" tube to a 1/2" to give a thicker cross section. I don't know if it matters but I feel better about the greater thickness. Below are some pictures of the parts for the sliding collars. I finished welding them today and am ready to drill the holes for the bolts.
 The tubes are all cut and ready to be cleaned prior to welding. All sizes are according to my new drawing.
First couple of tubes welded. The longer tube at the back is to hold everything in alignment for tack welding the washer in place. 
Finished collars ready to drill.
| | |
| "Don't be afraid to start over when you have a question or concern about a part; only be afraid if you don't!" | | |
| Below is the drawing for the Die Springs I am building. I am having some problems deciding if this design will work as the spring is not removable as shown I drew the drawing below from some other plans posted elsewhere that I simply re drew for clarity. So, I am looking for a solution that will allow me to remove the spring. I have tube one finished with the lower washer welded in place but I am thinking I may need to re do it in some manner to make the spring removable. Any suggestions???
| | |
|
