This morning I made one of the biggest steps on the way to my RV-10.  I actually ordered the first kit.  This is a big step for me.  Up until now it has just been talk that I want to build, or that I hope to build.  Now I have actually "Started to build" an airplane.  This is significant for me in that I was raised in a household where we were taught that if we start something, we must be willing to see it through to completion. 

My dad was very good about teaching us that if we were going to start something (hobby, sport, etc) that we should start it with the understanding that we were going to give our best effort and see it to completion.  Those lessons have stayed with me, so taking this step is actually the first step in a very large commitment of time and money. I couldn't be more excited!!

I have been working very hard on setting up the shop.  I came across a deal on some cabinet sections at a salvage store, and jumped at the opportunity to use them in my shop.  I decided to set them up against the concrete wall, that was mostly unfinished.  The previous owner had hung a 2x4 on the wall, with a piece of lattice screwed to it for hanging miscellaneous items.  I had to cut the 2x4 down to make room for what I wanted to do.  In hindsight, the concrete wall may not have been the best choice, but it was really the only one I could make.  My difficulties started with mounting the pegboard.  I don't have a hammer drill and was not having any luck getting a masonry bit to penetrate the concrete, so I resorted to liquid nails to get the backing boards for the peg board mounted.

Next up, I had to figure out a way to get the cabinet mounted to the wall.  This item is still pending.  So far I have tried a powder actuated nailer, which didn't get any further into the concrete than the masonry bit.  My father in law has a rotary hammer that he is going to loan me.  I will use that to set some anchors, then hang my cabinets.

  I also picked up a bargain bench at an antique store  for $4.  I added $20 worth of wheels to the bench to make it mobile, and it will make an ideal platform for the C-frame.  I can add another shelf to the bottom for additional storage.

Other preparations include adding some storage bins to the wall beside the new bench.  This will be a great place to store Clecos, rivets, and other miscellaneous items that would otherwise wind up cluttering the bench.  Also, under the bins you will see an air outlet that I added.  I hope to have two air outlets right at the bench.  One here, and another on the left near a hose real.  I will setup a regulator that I can move around from outlet to outlet when I need to have better control of pressure.

Here is a picture of my other workbench that I made for our last house.  I will still make use of this, and hope to put an air outlet near here as well.

Items still needed

• Finish air lines
• Put together regulator assembly
• Hang cabinet on wall
• Setup air manifold, and plumb to compressor
• Get a new compressor
• Make a decision on electrical wiring for compressor
• wire additional electrical outlets

Thursday night I started working on the Van's practice kit.  The first practice kit is the standard piece of angle and a sheet of aluminum, then another sheet of aluminum with a lap joint.  That was pretty straight forward, but I was dissapointed with my driven rivets.  One thing I learned was that I had the wrong rivet set on the gun.  That explains the marks on the skins.

Friday night I worked on the aileron section of the kit.  This was really rewarding.  I got the stiffeners back riveted to the skins, attached the doublers, and the ribs to the spars (Need to drill out and repair a couple of rivets there), and drilled the skins for final size, and drilled the skins to spar.   Now I need to take the whole thing apart, debur and dimple the skins and ribs.  I think the spar gets a countersink.

I took the aileron section with me to the EAA chapter Saturday morning to subject myself to critique, and reinforcement.  I got several comments, and all were interested in seeing what I had going on.  I confirmed all of my suspicions on the rivets that need to be removed, and redone.

I got the shipment with the Vans Practice kit, and started in on the first small project.  I am not pleased with the riveting on the AN470 rounded head rivets.   The rivet set is marking the Aluminum.

• The pneumatic squeezer is nice and does a good job
• Flush Riveting is fairly easy once you get the feel for the bucking bar
• Back riveting - only did one, but seems like an easy way to work.

This is the new site for BrentandErica.net.  It is based on the Graffiti CMS system.

We will be working to add content over the next few days.

Test post

For those with more time and money than me.  This is a serious aircraft to build at home

Not having a means to fly, I am having to get my aviation fixes online, or through books. Here is a nice video of an Instrument approach.