Vision_2012
Well-Known Member
Happy to say that my Vision EX has been signed off by the DAR.
Just over 5 years and about 2000 hours. And too much $ to think about.
Time to get serious about test flying, more to come. :ban:
Vision EX has been signed off.
- Thread starter Vision_2012
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Happy to say that my Vision EX has been signed off by the DAR.
Just over 5 years and about 2000 hours. And too much $ to think about.
Time to get serious about test flying, more to come. :ban:
Congratulations.
Keep us posted on the first flight and Phase 1.
BJC
Keep us posted on the first flight and Phase 1.
BJC
TFF
Well-Known Member
Awesome!
Looking at it it look's well worth the $. I would love too see a comparison of it and the Saber Wing from Bill Clapp
Victor Bravo
Well-Known Member
Congratulations!
Now get completely paranoid, suspicious, and overly detailed about everything. Everything.
Now get completely paranoid, suspicious, and overly detailed about everything. Everything.
Guyo
Member
FOLLOW YOUR DREAM! ON TO THE NEXT MILESTONE! CONGRATULATIONS!
Vision_2012
Well-Known Member
The fold-a-plane is a great improvement over the slats over forms with the foam tied on method.
But one must overcome some issues of its own. If one vacuum bags the panels making up the lower fuselage, the prefolded structure will be quite stiff and resistant to folding and laying into the forms as proscribed by the plans. Instead I propose temporarily screwing them to plywood panels that are hinged together. This also allows better control over the panels to adjust them prior to locking them in with the bulkheads. The hinged tool was done by another builder. One also needs to be prepared to work with large areas and reaching in the "canoe" to glass the inside. An assistant surely helps.
Vision_2012
Well-Known Member
No, see the large panel on the drive way next to my truck. That large panel has the bottom completely glassed and some of the inside where the floor will be flat glassed as well. It is one piece, made up of 1/4" and 1/2" foam panels joined together. The 1/4" foam is only where the bend occurs. Stitch'n'glue puts together several pieces but in the three-dimensional form. (just saw your post with your son's canoe project--excellent!) The big assembled sheet enters the tool flat and the tool bends the sides and tail up. The plywood tool should hold the bottom and sides firmly and the hinges would allow the fold to "canoe" shape. Originally the structure is dropped into about four cradles, but I found this to allow some irregularities in shape.
Credit for the “Fold a Plane” technology goes to Joel Walworth of Applied Vehicle Technologies. (http://AVTComposites.com)
picture of my "canoe" in cradles with black plastic to aid post cure. Firewall, seat back and baggage compartment bulkheads and internal glassing is done.
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Ok I see now, instead of stitched in place, they are glassed together before even folding them up.
Is the top done the same way as well?
Once folded into place, do you need more reinforcement glass, or does the internal structure of the seats, etc... do that?
Is the top done the same way as well?
Once folded into place, do you need more reinforcement glass, or does the internal structure of the seats, etc... do that?
Vision_2012
Well-Known Member
Yes, turtle deck is bent to shape on forms, and yes, internal structure of firewall, bulkheads and seat back lock in the structure. Seat bottoms are removable. Last-a-foam can be bent with an application of heat.
slociviccoupe
Well-Known Member
Will you sell your plans
Good Job Vision 2012, I started with the old method some years back, stitching and removing the outer skinned foam was a pain in the Butt, I tried a number of different methods, but in the end gave it away. Steve Rahm the designer said that 1/4" was strong enough for the entire Airframe but it made it difficult to maintain the desired shape, and as you pointed out, transferring to another Jig for the internal glassing had it's problems as well.
I tried bending the foam to give a more rounded fuselage shape, narrow at the Butt 40" and wider at shoulders 44", but when I cut the string it all sprung out as the 1/2" wanted to return to it's original form. I could see the issues with the Fold-a-frame method and gave it away. I have since designed my own Plane, but getting too old to build it on a Pension,
I did run the numbers for the Vision, they all stood up pretty well, Steve including his father had a lot of History in Aviation and to him being safe was of significant importance - nothing was recommended unless built and tested. I tried for ages to get Steve to develop a Carbon Spar to get weight down to Light Sport, alas to no avail - now it's available through Scott, but too late for me.
All the best with the rest of the development.
George
I tried bending the foam to give a more rounded fuselage shape, narrow at the Butt 40" and wider at shoulders 44", but when I cut the string it all sprung out as the 1/2" wanted to return to it's original form. I could see the issues with the Fold-a-frame method and gave it away. I have since designed my own Plane, but getting too old to build it on a Pension,
I did run the numbers for the Vision, they all stood up pretty well, Steve including his father had a lot of History in Aviation and to him being safe was of significant importance - nothing was recommended unless built and tested. I tried for ages to get Steve to develop a Carbon Spar to get weight down to Light Sport, alas to no avail - now it's available through Scott, but too late for me.
All the best with the rest of the development.
George
