N114KB Project Updates

Final assembly activities

Thanks for the visit, Turner! It was great to finally meet you in person and to spend some time poring over your beautiful airplane.

Weight and balance underway!

Weight and balance underway! On the scales…

Weight and balance underway!

Great job by On-Site Weight & Balance; thanks, Sal!

First fueling about to commence…

And…a couple of fuel leaks found, one minor, one somewhat less so. Argh. — with Alex Cole.

The detanking underway…

The detanking underway…

Meanwhile, I received a gorgeous pair of landing/taxi light lenses from Big Sky Robotics. Very nicely made and highly recommended.

The new lenses with their nutplate strips setting up.

IFR pitot-static and transponder certifications underway.

IFR pitot-static and transponder certifications underway.

IFR pitot-static and transponder certifications underway.

Great work from Volusia Aviation; thanks, Sean!

New lens installed.

New lens installed.

Final assembly continued…

Pitot and AOA lines installed. Ready for flight.

Pitot and AOA lines installed. Ready for flight.

Left-side stick to torque tube pushrod connection finger tight for testing.

All right-side wing root connections torqued and sealed. Ready for flight.

All left-side wing root connections torqued and sealed. Ready for flight.

Right-side lower wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Right-side lower wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Left-side lower wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Left-side lower wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Right-side fuel tank vent in place

Left-side fuel tank vent in place.

Right-side engraved fuel tank cap installed and adjusted. Ready for flight.

Left-side engraved fuel tank cap installed and adjusted. Ready for flight.

Seat ramps, seat ramp cover, and aft tunnel cover clecoed back in place.

Baggage bulkhead corrugation removed for inspection. Various elevator bellcrank connections torque-sealed.

The neat pile of interior components that Jean is maintaining in the back of the hangar. Thanks, hon!!

Now that the ailerons are connected, the sticks no longer flop to one side or the other. They look ready to go!!

Left-side upper wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Right-side upper wing root fairing clecoed in place.

Overall view at the end of today’s session. It’s definitely looking purposeful and RV-like. Can’t wait to go flying in another few weeks.

Final assembly progress

Right wing bolts torqued and sealed. Ready for flight.

Left wing bolts torqued and sealed. Ready for flight.

Right wing tank-fuse side fuel line installed. Ready for flight.

Left wing tank-fuse side fuel line installed. Ready for flight.

Flaps adjusted – down position. Ready for flight.

Flaps adjusted – up position. Ready for flight.

G3X PFD position updated. I got the ADSB working after this photo; it’s now ready for flight. Less the various still-to-be-calibrated functions, of course.

G3X MFD position updated. I got the ADSB working after this photo; it’s now ready for flight. Less the various still-to-be-calibrated functions, of course.

Right wing nav light, strobe, and landing light ready for flight.

Left wing nav light, strobe, and taxi light ready for flight.

G3X PFD configuration mode system information page. All green checkboxes now that the Can bus is complete and updated. Ready for flight.

G3X PFD configuration mode system information page. All green checkboxes now that the Can bus is complete and updated. Ready for flight.

Final assembly and wing mounting in process

Ready for the big airplane moving day…

Getting ready for the big move. I really thought that extricating the fuselage from the garage would be a MAJOR ordeal. Thankfully, with the great group of guys I had on hand, it wound up being anticlimactic.— with Shane Barker, Alex Cole and Dan Ruehl.

With Mark Atwood, Glenn Martin, Paul Chuchel and Shane Barker.

With Dan Ruehl, Alex Cole, Glenn Martin and Mark Atwood.

With Dan Ruehl, Paul Chuchel, Shane Barker and Glenn Martin.

With Jean Balch, Paul Chuchel, Dan Ruehl and Shane Barker.

With Shane Barker, Dan Ruehl, Jean Balch and Paul Chuchel.

Out in the sun for the first time!!

With Alex Cole and Dan Ruehl.

With Shane Barker, Glenn Martin, Alex Cole, Dan Ruehl, Paul Chuchel and Jean Balch.

With Shane Barker, Glenn Martin, Alex Cole, Dan Ruehl, Paul Chuchel and Jean Balch.

With Jean Balch.

With Jean Balch.

With Alex Cole and Dan Ruehl.

With Shane Barker, Glenn Martin, Alex Cole, Dan Ruehl, Paul Chuchel and Jean Balch.

With Shane Barker, Glenn Martin, Alex Cole, Dan Ruehl, Paul Chuchel and Jean Balch.

With Jean Balch.

With Jean Balch.

Beginning to load the plane onto the trailer. It looked a little precarious, but having such a great crew made it go smoothly.

Unloading begins…

Getting ready to mount the first wing… — with Dan Ruehl, Shane Barker, Mark Atwood and Paul Chuchel.

With Dan Ruehl, Shane Barker, Alex Cole, Mark Atwood and Paul Chuchel.

With Dan Ruehl, Shane Barkerand Glenn Martin.

With Glenn Martin.

The second wing successfully mounted. That’s the first time that both wings have been on simultaneously. It looks like a real RV now!

Everyone was glad to take a turn trying it on for size. I’m looking forward to giving rides to all of these guys! — with Mark Atwood and Dan Ruehl.

With Mark Atwood and Dan Ruehl.

With Shane Barker, Mark Atwoodand Dan Ruehl.

Most of the crew – missing only Glenn, who had to leave a bit earlier. — with Paul Chuchel, Alex Cole, Jean Balch, Shane Barker, Mark Atwood and Dan Ruehl.

Safely ensconced its hangar…