Vision EX has been signed off.

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

 

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

 

Congratulations!

Now get completely paranoid, suspicious, and overly detailed about everything. Everything.

 

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM! ON TO THE NEXT MILESTONE! CONGRATULATIONS!

 

Woop Woop!
Congratulations!

Now fly safe

 

How easy was the Fold-A-Plane method?

 

awesome

Tim

 

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.

 

I dont fully understand....
Fold-A-Plane is like stitch n glue?

The plywood is just to force the glassed foam panels into position before gluing and glassing them together?

 

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.

 

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?

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw7xafhj9ZI


BJC

 

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.