N114KB Project Updates

Finish, panel underway

The first item from the Stein panel crate installed! 

Transponder antenna (obviously) now wired to the aft end of the cable installed in the tailcone way back last summer.

A little better view of the panel awaiting its date with the fuselage. The bubble wrap is covering an absolute rat’s nest of wiring and remote boxes, though not nearly all of them.

Getting this all connected – and all of the boxes mounted – is NOT going to be fun.

Fun times crawling into the baggage area today to complete running coiled lines forward from the tailcone. In this case, the forward end of the transponder cable on the right side and the static line on the left side.

I also took a moment to tighten the headset & mic jacks, drill, install, & tighten the LEMO jacks, and connect the 12V power port ground wire. Hey, why not, I was there.

All sorts of stuff has now been run forward and up behind the subpanel. This area is about to look a whole lot worse before it begins to look any better.

I’m going to need to come up with a better stick wiring solution. Stein’s neat little connector backshells won’t pass through the snap bushing holes. I may just connect all the D-sub pins directly and heat shrink them together. We shall see.

Finish, panel arrival

The panel has arrived! I thought they were kidding about laser engraving the crate lid, but apparently not. Very cool. I’m going to have that wall mounted, as-is.

A better photo…

In as-received condition. Everything appears to have come through in great shape.

Everything on the tabletop from the rolled wiring schematic left (plus the GTN manual immediately to the right of the roll) was all in the crate, including some nice swag.

Inventory will commence tomorrow morning, but it’s a more than a little overwhelming.

Just a peek at the panel, itself. N-number correct, check.

Finish, gear installation

Fuselage on first (lower) sawhorse on its way up to the taller one for gear installation.

Fuselage ready for gear installation.

Left main gear installed and axle ready for wheel mounting.

Left main gear, wheel, and tire installed.

Torquing those gear attachment bar nuts.

Thanks, Jean, Alex, and Paul for all the great work and assistance today; much appreciated! — with Alex Cole.

Right axle with brake torque plate incorrectly positioned. I didn’t catch this until after the wheel and tire were installed.

It’s all fixed now, but I need to order another large cotter pin.

Nose gear leg installed and ready for the fork.

Nose gear leg installed and ready for the fork.

Nose gear fork, wheel, and tire installed.

On the gear!!

On the gear!!