A slow week for the Strutter. We continue to cut and bend the metal for the landing gear, we should be able to start welding soon. Spent a whole day with a computer controlled router cutting out the wing ribs and associated parts. This enabled us to have wing parts that are very accurate. We will start cutting and routing the spars soon.
Archive for June, 2008
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
Monday, June 30th, 2008Plugging along
Saturday, June 28th, 2008Just kind of moving along with the wings construction. The welding for the tail post is to be completed this week so we can assemble the fuselage components that are fabricated. Gear to follow.
All Sewn Up
Friday, June 27th, 2008Two of our airframe students, Cory Smith and Jennifer Fells have had a crash course in fabric stitching and they are doing a fine job. The tail surfaces are just about finished. All that’s left is taping over the stitches. I don’t think that they realized how time consuming it can be.
The bracing for inside the wing is being laid out and once that is done then the wing shall be ready to cover. The rumor around school is that Vickie Winfrey our Director is going to help stitch the wings when it’s time.
Learning Fabric Covering June 27,2008
Friday, June 27th, 2008
The Aircraft Wood, Fabric and Finishes class this term is working on covering a flight control for the WW1 Nieuport 24 aircraft. In this class the students learn about the different types of wood used in aircraft manufacturing and the various types of fabrics to cover aircraft. This class was aiming for perfection which they accomplished on the second attempt. It was a good hands-on experience installing the fabric; removing the fabric and prepping the metal for re-apply of the fabric a second time. The students who did a great job are from right to left: Donti Major, Mary Lansana, Daniel Baker, Isaac, Ngunjiri, Alex Caudle, Greg Lord, Daniel Dockery, and Pete Legarski.
Donti Major is looking over another flight control for fabric covering. Donti said he was working as a fork lift operator in Sumter, South Carolina when his cousin told him about our school. Being that he did not see a future with his present job he enrolled in our school and has been very successful. After he gets his Airframe and Powerplant certificate he wants to get a job working on helicopters, then he said he will have a good career.
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
Monday, June 23rd, 2008Work this week finished up the welding of the mount pads to the fuselage, our student welder did a great job. We continue with the lay out of the gear legs and axles for the main wheels. Cutting and fitting of the parts should be finished this week. The sheetmetal class continued work on the seats for the aircraft.
Metal parts
Friday, June 20th, 2008Starting layout on the very few metal parts to be welded on the Pup. have two student certified aircraft welders which is coming in handy!
June 20,2008
Friday, June 20th, 2008
Last week we had some tubing cut for the brake pedals and this week we have welded the tubes in place and have installed most of the parts together. Everything is in place in the cockpit. The brake pedals will be positioned with the consideration of the angle for a comfortable operation. The original WW1 Nieuport 24 did not have brakes, we are incorporating them for safety. 
Some sheetmetal work is moving forward with the cutting out for the firewall. More work will be done on this before it is finished.
Friday work
Thursday, June 19th, 2008Planning, on June 20th, working on the wing. We might get some welding done too, depending on the progress made on the wing.
Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008Work continues on the Sopwith. Friday the students put another coat of spar varnish on the wooden parts. The wooden parts that create the rounded area surrounding the gunners position were finished, will do final sanding and varnish this week. Work continues on the landing gear and attaching parts. The motor mount gusetts were drilled, will need to be reamed to fit the mount pads and then welded. Work progresses.
The Morane takes its first cross country journey
Sunday, June 15th, 2008Team Kansas City finally got the Morane (well at least the fuselage) dressed for its first outing. The AIM Morane was on display this weekend at the Gathering of Eagles 2008 at the Gardner, Kansas Airport. This Great War fly-in is an annual event on Father’s Day weekend, and brings in WWI enthusiasts from all over the country. Because of recent storms and flooding, the attendance of aircraft and visitors was lower than normal. Those who did attend were treated to a beautiful day and exciting displays on the ground and in the air. We have included a few photos to show you what you missed.
The photo above shows the Morane on display, and those below show some of the other aircraft present for the Gathering of Eagles 2008.
The Spad XIII on the left was the only example of that manufacturer present. On the right are some of the gaggle of Nieuports that are always visible in the Kansas City area, where most are based.
AIM Kansas City Team Leader Marvin Story is always in attendance with his Siemens Shukert, and as often happens, he was the only example of German aircraft construction.
The action wasn’t limited to static displays. The aircraft occasionally did what they were built for, and took to the skies. The odds weren’t too good for the lone German, but it seemed that only the Nieuports were seen to be on fire.
As Marvin heads off into the sunset, we assume he is going back to AIM to get his team fired up about completing the wing construction so that they can get the Morane in the air this summer.