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  1. b7gwap

    Tube flattening techniques

    I’m making the tail struts for my Sandlin Goat 2, and not super happy with how some of my flattening is turning out on the larger .375 x .035 tube. Sandlin says he uses a “padded vise.” So far I’ve broken two vises on my .25 x .035 tubes, so I bought a cheap arbor press. This is superior in the...
  2. b7gwap

    Will there be a western soaring workshop in 2024?

    I’d love to attend this year if y’all are doing it again.
  3. b7gwap

    The 737 is an honest airplane

    Sitting in the Portland airport about to board a hard working next gen -900 in the pouring rain, thinking of how many flights this old girl has put in and how many more she has left to give. The ants swarm all over her in the wet, filling her tanks, unloading her hold and cabin, the captain and...
  4. b7gwap

    Sandlin Gliders: Builds, mods, flights

    I have started (or restarted) a Goat 2 build in between my CH750 tail and wing build. I had some posts on another thread in General Aviation Exp Questions but want break that off so as not to hijack. I’ll be posting more build pictures as I progress and sharing any insights I have along the...
  5. b7gwap

    Parts Wanted Lazair parts

    I’d really like to look close up at the Lazair design. Anyone who has a wrecked or derelict Lazair or parts, especially wing panels, please PM me, we can make a deal. :) Austin in Utah
  6. b7gwap

    Shimming ultralight tube “sleeve” doublers

    For those who have built or rebuilt tube and fabric ULs, where the hard points are (cable attach points, wing, engine, tail attach etc) there are often smaller diameter tubes inserted as doublers. How have you seen these shimmed as they don’t fit tightly and therefore don’t pass load to the...
  7. b7gwap

    Ultralight covering prep tips

    Last time I covered anything other than an RC model was in a symposium that taught the basics of the poly fiber process on a pine box simulating a rib bay. We did the tak, wetted in the cloth, overlaps, shrunk it, then did the fill, some “rib” stitching, tapes over ribs, pinking shears, did a...
  8. b7gwap

    Automotive derived terminals

    Guys/gals I’m getting ready to finish up my CH750 STOL elevator (finally), specifically the Ray Allen 5 - wire trim servo to its pigtail portion. The drawings don’t really tell you how to connect it, Jon Croke soldered his in his video, I’m just wondering what you folks have done here. I’m...
  9. b7gwap

    Trimming piano hinges for riding clearance.

    Without getting into the MRB stress and fatigue margins, anecdotally, is there any harm in trimming off the outermost loops in a 48” long zenith CH750 STOL elevator trim tab hinge? I have to assume this would be better than letting it rub against the radiused corners of the elevator skin cutout...
  10. b7gwap

    Two place CGS Hawk restoration

    Guys A friend of mine and his wife are inheriting this airplane from her aging father which hasn’t flown in years. They both paraglide and want to operate it part 103. I’ve already told them that part 103 doesn’t apply to 2-seaters, but I was foggy on the details on the whole “Fat ultralight to...
  11. b7gwap

    Ok to build Engine before fuselage?

    Guys/gals; Finishing up my CH750 Stol empennage, preparing workshop for wing components next, but should I be in the market for good cores for my eventual O-320 build all the while? Maybe even have that build project going along the side of the rest? Or will that delay the project, and force me...
  12. b7gwap

    Dimensional differences between Zenith CH750 variants at component interfaces.

    Most of the external dimensions are available on Zenith’s website, I am mainly curious if any of the Zenith folks here know some details on measurements at attach points. For instance, could you bolt a set of super duty wings on a Cruzer, or vice versa with a STOL, and if not (I’m assuming not)...
  13. b7gwap

    Jon Croke builds Afford A Plane videos

    Mr Croke is a household name among home builders, I was a little surprised at his choice of subject design for his recent initiative to revitalize interest in Part 103 operations. But since he’s posting the videos for free on YT, I find myself unable to stop watching. For those at the bottom...
  14. b7gwap

    Anyone done your own rebuild on a O-320?

    Title says it all. I’ve got a CH750 STOL kit in the works and was going corvair, but someone pointed out that this airframe will take an O-235 OR an O-320, and that rebuilding my own timed out O-320 might be in the same ballpark finance wise. I’m at high altitude (4400 field elevation) and the...
  15. b7gwap

    Ideas for joining UL tube ladder wing spars at splices.

    I'm drawing up a fat guy Sandlin glider in SW. This will be what I call the "BUG 5" as it is a derivative of the BUG4. Sandlin's drawings call out the main spar tubes as having a splice at the outer flying wire location (1 inch OUTBD of that location to be exact.) He carries the bending and...
  16. b7gwap

    Kolb Ultrastar vs Kolb Firefly

    These aircraft seem to have performed very similar mission profiles. Aside from the apparent layout differences, can anyone speak as to either or especially both aircraft’s flight, ground, storage, building or other characteristics one compared to the other? 10,000 ft level: high boom vs low...
  17. b7gwap

    Anybody here flown a Marske Monarch?

    I saw that Kollman composites is making this as a kit for $12500 and claiming that if laid up with Kevlar it makes the FAR 103 155 lbs empty weight requirement. Anybody have any experience flying one of these? Searching the soaring forum there a few references to it but more about his larger...
  18. b7gwap

    Preferred bench layout and shop design for building wood aircraft

    Hi again folks, It seems that some people like their OSB EAA Chapter 1000 modular tables or modified versions. Some others go whole hog and build box jointed torsion box oak veneer carpentry masterpieces. I have space, some tools, and am putting together a place in a basement to comfortably...
  19. b7gwap

    Alternative to nails or staples

    I will be building an ULF-1 in the near future and had a question about open truss wood rib fabrication in general. I have watched several EAA videos and gone to look at some real examples to better understand the process and requirements, eg jig construction, bending of members, gusset...
  20. b7gwap

    Raceair Skylite Plans

    These plans are no longer available for sale from the designer, unfortunately. Does anyone have a used set they’d be willing to sell? Thanks Austin
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