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Re: Building myths. Is scratch building really less expensi

I've been flying my scratch built for 10 years, now, so costs have increased. But I spent $28,000 all-in, including materials and tools. AeroVee 2.1, smoke system, MGL Xtreme Mini, transponder, MGL panel mount radio, uAvionix ADSB in/out, ELT, polished finish (Rustoleum rattle can paint on cowl and ...
by mike.smith
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:09 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Building myths. Is scratch building really less expensive?
Replies: 13
Views: 920

Re: Noise insulation

I remember someone used angle pieces, just 1x1x.025 or maybe less, attached diagonally across panels with double sided tape. Effective, but no analysis of how these may concentrate stress at their ends. I saw this on another build and I am considering doing this to reduce the oil canning noise from...
by mike.smith
Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:45 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Noise insulation
Replies: 11
Views: 1461

Re: Pneumatic Drill

I'm a fan of cordless drills. I have a pneumatic drill I bought in 1990 and I almost never used it. Likewise. I used the pneumatic drill for about 2 weeks, then built the rest with my cordless drill. I'm building an RV-7 now, and still not using a pneumatic drill. Personal preference, but you don't...
by mike.smith
Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:20 pm
 
Forum: Tools
Topic: Pneumatic Drill
Replies: 10
Views: 14404

Re: IS THERE A VIDEO DETAILING BUILDING SONEX WING?

One nice thing about the plans is you basically stay on one page and finish everything before moving to the next page. Sonex has a strange way of ordering the sheets, though. You start at the last page (for each sub-assembly, like "wings") and work to the first page. I scratch built mine, ...
by mike.smith
Wed Nov 22, 2023 8:17 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: IS THERE A VIDEO DETAILING BUILDING SONEX WING?
Replies: 6
Views: 5102

Re: Seasonal cruise performance changes

I love flying in the winter! With me and 10 gallons of fuel, I often climb out at 1,200 fpm or better. Much better performance all around. A hot day in the summer could be 400 fpm with the same load.
by mike.smith
Tue Nov 07, 2023 9:06 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Seasonal cruise performance changes
Replies: 2
Views: 2531

Re: sight picture (over the nose)

I'm 5'-11". In level cruise flight (90-95 kts) my nose is just below the horizon. I have a vertical fuel vent that sticks up above the cowl, and level flight usually puts the horizon in the middle of that vertical vent. The Sonex has a long nose, so it never has good visibility over the nose.
by mike.smith
Fri Nov 03, 2023 8:47 pm
 
Forum: Sonex
Topic: sight picture (over the nose)
Replies: 42
Views: 18733

Re: Aerobrake puck and disc wear?

I have a couple if thick washers between the brake body and the wheel/bearing. Otherwise the brake pad and puck are in constant hard contact with one another. I have had my current pucks for 3 years and they are still in good shape, without need of replacement.
by mike.smith
Fri Nov 03, 2023 8:44 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Aerobrake puck and disc wear?
Replies: 16
Views: 4786

Re: Length of Bending Brake For A Scratch Build?

I built one long enough to bend the rear spars without a splice. As it turned out, I MIS-CUT the channels, and ended up with the splice anyway. Oh, well!

https://www.cannedhamtrailers.com/pdfs/ ... eplans.pdf
by mike.smith
Sat Oct 28, 2023 2:57 pm
 
Forum: Sonex
Topic: Length of Bending Brake For A Scratch Build?
Replies: 7
Views: 1749

Re: XC vlog from Illinois to Maine!

I wasn't advocating running with the secondary ignition in IMC. In fact, you couldn't pay me enough to fly a Sonex IMC. It's a neutrally stable aircraft to start with, which means you need to fly it all the time. And if you've ever been in visible moisture/rain in a Sonex, you'll know why it's a VFR...
by mike.smith
Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:31 pm
 
Forum: Trip reports
Topic: XC vlog from Illinois to Maine!
Replies: 14
Views: 22784

Re: September 2024 Finger Lakes Fly-In

Sounds great! Keep us updated.
by mike.smith
Wed Oct 25, 2023 9:20 pm
 
Forum: Fly-Ins
Topic: September 2024 Finger Lakes Fly-In
Replies: 8
Views: 1686
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