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Messages - MikeD

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31
Hangar Flying / Restoration of Long-Ez project
« on: June 19, 2007, 10:00:53 AM »
I got a list of mods from Drew and Bruce.  All sounds reasonable and all of them will be considered, time permitting.

My progress has been substantial and rather hard work, I have finished (nearly) my workshop ready for winter and retrieved the complete project from way across the country (phew - that was an experience).

My workshop is at the back of a narrow carport and I was unsure whether the Long-EZ with the main gear in place would go through!  We tried everyway, even upside down and at various angles, anyway the inevitable had to happen... off with the main gear (it was coming off anyway for a complete QA inspection before starting work on it).

I have a zero timed O-320 B3B engine ready to install so I think I will go for the longer nose mod but I'm now between the devil and the deep blue sea on the next item, your thoughts and advice would be most welcome.

Once the project is finished I have three choices:
1: Get in a crane to lift it over the house (in dollars about $3,000)
2: Knock down the carport and get divorced (again!) (anybody see the Long-EZ on e-bay, forced sale because of an impending divorced settlement), I think I'll give that a miss!
3: Fit retractables so I can take it in and out anytime I like as well as getting all the benefits.

I'm seriously looking at number 3: because I can deduct the crane ($3,000) costs from the price of the retractables :-)  My wife doesn't quite see it that way, she's not an accountant but a darn sight better at finances than I am. I still think the $4,000 I spent converting my small garage into a bigger workshop doesn't have anything to do with the project... it's added value to the property.

32
Hangar Flying / Restoration of Long-Ez project
« on: June 03, 2007, 03:20:55 PM »
Bruce,

Your list and advice is very informative and will save me a lot of work, thanks.  I looks like the first one is going to be the longer nose followed by the longer rudder mod.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I might have to remove the main gear to get it through a narrow(ish) carport (width 92 inches x 86 inches high) into my workshop. Is it much of a problem to remove this?

Mike

33
Hangar Flying / Restoration of Long-Ez project
« on: June 01, 2007, 08:02:03 AM »
Thanks for the info Drew, it looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Another very basic question (I don't have the hull or the paperwork yet!),  I have a problem in getting the basic hull into my garage with the main U/C wheel struts on (narrow access point ).  Can they be easily removed and replaced quickly without too much work?  I can handle the strakes width of 114 inches by canting the fuselage over at 45 deg  but I'm a little restricted in height, hence wanting to remove main struts.

34
Hangar Flying / Restoration of Long-Ez project
« on: May 30, 2007, 09:03:21 AM »
Hi all,

I'm a new kid on the block (first post) and would like to let everyone know how interesting and informative this forum is. But first a little history:

I gained my PPL in 1982 while living in South Africa and done about 250 hrs P1.  Returned to the U.K. in 1987 and found the cost of flying here horrendous (still is!) so I took up Gliding instead. I progressed to becoming an instructor and have done approx 900 hrs and many, many cross country flights (300km). Then I bought into a Fournier RF5 Touring Motor Glider syndicate after re-validating the PPL licence again.

In 2006 I managed to get the syndicate to embark on a complete overhaul and restoration project of the RF5, it was getting old (37 yrs) and showing its age.  We have just finished the restoration taking 1150 hrs between 6 syndicate members, I done most of the fabric covering (Stits system - USA) and all the painting which took me 400 hrs. (1150 divided by 6 is 400... isn't it!). Anyway, the story continues...

The hands on and building thing hooked me again, I trained as an Engineer (Transport and Marine) and moved sideways into I.T. in the early days when Bill Gates was still working in his garage. So I genuinely miss the hands on thing and the satisfaction of creating something of true value. Then it happened, ebay Item number: 280108046078 Long-EZ came up for sale again (first buyer backed out), I just couldn't help myself.

Things I'm doing/have done:

My garage is being extended (I told my wife the roof was leaking anyway :-) and insulated/heated for winter work.
 
I have yet to transport the unfinished Long-EZ back home.

I have done many hours of research on this forum into what engines etc. and have managed to get a completely overhauled Lycoming O-320-B3B (will be test run on a dynamometer) with all ancillaries etc.
 
I have visited a local Long-EZ owner/builder and have picked his brains (invaluable information).

Contacted all the PFA (UK) inspectors who will oversee the finishing of the project.

Subscribed to the CSA newsletter and have ordered some back-issues.

Researching the paint system, I think I will be going with 'Flight Gloss'/ 'Aero-Thane' (USA) finish.

Bought some basic instruments on e-bay (nearly new at a fraction of the price)


Some questions for you experienced people:  

Is there a definitive list of Long-EZ mods. I see that there is one for the VE in a CSA back-issue.

What would you consider to be the main mods that would improve the Long-EZ at the pre-painting stage (like electric nose gear or the Efficient Rudder mod).

Coming from many years of gliding, I'm wondering why I haven't seen any pictures of a Long-EZ with the strake/wing joints taped! They all appear to have a small gap.


MikeD

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