Archive for July, 2008
Keeping Busy
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Progress is slow, but.
Friday, July 25th, 2008Made some progress with engine stand to get accessories mounted for configuring engine mount.
Also got some work done on the fuselage sections today.
New student, new volunteer for Nieuport 24 build team.
Friday, July 25th, 2008
The student pictured here is Anna Brown. Anna just started the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program here at our FAR 147 approved school in Chesapeake, Virginia. She is filling out a Nieuport 24 (N24) sign-up sheet to work on the WW1 aircraft project. Even though she just started school this last Monday she wants to spend extra time learning how to build an aircraft from scratch she said. “I want to learn this because I want to buy older planes and fix them for re-sell or keep them.” She has been interested in aviation for a long time because her family back ground is with the Air Force. “Ten more hours and I will have my pilot’s license” as she continues talking about all the aircraft she is interested in rebuilding. She heard this was a good school because she saw a letter hanging up in the flight planning room at the Jamestown/Williamsburg Airport (JGG) where she was taking flying lessons In fact graduates from our school worked there and recommended this school to her. When asked what she wants to do when she finishes the AMT program and gets here Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate she said she would like to get a job at Nassau in the Bahamas or at JGG.
Anna is looking at the N24 aircraft. The landing gear is in the front but not attached to the fuselage because it was just painted. Please clik on images to enlarge and check in next week for more pictures !
Preparing to Mount the Wing
Friday, July 25th, 2008The wing splices are fabricated and installed on one side of the spars. The undrilled splices will be clamped in place then drilled to match the splices already installed. Once the splices are done, then 2 pieces become one.
All of the end fittings for the compression struts have been machined along with the drag and anti-drag wire brackets. All of the aileron ribs and rib to torque tube connectors are fabricated. Torque tubes and aileron will be installed after the wing ribs are tacked in their final locations.
The wing itself will be a one piece wing with no seperation at the center. This makes the wing easy to fabricate and rig but much harder to transport to the airport.
The students have finished with the oil tank and it has been tack welded only and will fit in the area between the side cowl and the left side of the fuselage. The fuel tank is clecoed together only. The fit is good and should work just fine. We’re hoping that the fuel tank will hold around 25 gallons of fuel.
The 4th coat of butyrate dope has been brushed on the fuselage and should be about ready for paint. The tail group has been covered and rib stitches are complete. The next step is finish tapes and then more dope, then paint.
We have started installing the ignition harness on the engine also. We should soon be able to figure out where all the fuel and oil lines will go once the tanks are in place and the engine is in place.
Next week, we will be having an Open House so the Morane will be on display for all of Kansas City to see-watch for pictures next week!
Progress continues
Friday, July 25th, 2008
Following items have been completed recently and are ready for Dop & Fab:
• Elevators
• Vertical Fin
• Rudder
Oshkos
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Not much to report on the Nieuport project this week. We do have a couple students heading up to Oshkos for a couple days, sounds like fun. To anyone going to Oshkos have fun.
New hands
Sunday, July 20th, 2008Had “regulars” on the Friday group as usual. Had several new start students in for orientation who came in to see about the project. As we get more things built, we get more interest. The ones who were waiting for a “kit” to appear are getting interested also now that they can see things there that look like a plane.
Nieuport 24 Status July 18, 2008
Friday, July 18th, 2008
Tein Le is pictured here sorting out some wood screws so he can fasten some wood blocks to a board in our first picture. Wood blocks are screwed onto this board and then the ribs are placed in position with a capstrip. The blocks are then turned to put tension on the capstrip to hold it tightly onto the ribs while the adhesive cures. In the next picture Pete Largarski is assisting Tein while he screws the wood blocks into position. Please click on all pictures to enlarge them.
In the three pictures above you can see the progress that has been made from the students. Pete is working on the positioning of the ribs on the board and Tein is helping. In the next picture Greg Lord is helping Pete with the board and as more spots open up for a rib Greg is seen applying adhesive to the capstrip and then Pete is placing it on the board.
Last week a lot of students were working on the instrument panel and pictured here are Pete and Greg holding the finished product. A lot of volunteered hours are helping build this Nieuport 24 airplane from our students and we do appreciate all the time and effort they are putting in on this unique school project.
Other items we worked on this week are the control stick torque tube and we primed/painted the landing gear struts. Check back next week for some pictures of this and more.
Finals Week
Thursday, July 17th, 2008Crunch time here at Indy so not much work was completed. Congradulations to all graduates.
Searching for parts
Saturday, July 12th, 2008Anyone know of a source for Metric turnbukles, or as the British say, “strainers”? I need 4 MM, 4.5MM and some 5MM. B&B sold all they had to someone in New Zealand.
Got some new help with the mod start.