Rear Spar Assembly

Smoothed the edges and surfaces of the rear spar reinforcement bars to a satin finish equivalent to that left by 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Both reinforcement bars required extra sanding to remove deep marks. Clecod the reinforcement bars to the spar channels and final drilled all holes to #30. Next step is to final drill a few more holes, clean, prime, and begin riveting.

The Empennage Kit Has Arrived

Our empennage kit arrived Wednesday afternoon, 12 Nov 08. Inventoried everything on Friday and all parts are accounted for. Still trying to get the shop ready; hook up compressor, organize tools, purchase space heater (can't work in a cold shop), and anything else as needed.

Work Tables

Today I have been building two EAA 1000 work tables. I believe the original is about 33" high while mine will be 38" high. I'm also modifying them to have 1.5" overhang on the front and on one end. I will also have the option of bolting the two ends together to make a 10' long work table. The hard part is coming to the realization that they will not be absolutely perfect...close though...perhaps a weakness on my part. I better get used to small mistakes and slight imperfections when I begin building the plane. I don't think anyone has ever built one without having to drill out at least one rivet.

EAA 1000 Work Tables

Favorite quotes, etc.

If you are looking for perfect safety, you will do well to sit on a fence and watch the birds; but if you really wish to learn, you must mount a machine and become acquainted with its tricks by actual trial.
Wilbur Wright, 1901

There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots.
W. W. Windstaff

There's no such thing as a natural-born pilot.
Chuck Yeager

If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.
Bob Hoover

A pilot lives in a world of perfection, or not at all.
Richard S. Drury

Though it was a place where I could quickly die, the cockpit was a place where I truly lived.
Brian Shul

Great pilots are made, not born. A man may possess good eyesight, sensitive hands, and perfect coordination, but the end result is only fashioned by steady coaching, much practice, and experience.
Air Vice-Marshal J.E. 'Johnnie' Johnson, RAF