Six years and growing in all directions

       In the photo you can see that we have two completed flaps, two ailerons, rudder and elevator, one wing with top skin riveted and bottom skin clecoed, fuel tanks, controls, and a fuselage ready for skins.  In the shop we have other miscellaneous pieces and small assemblies ready to add to our airframe.   

       Our  sixth year saw several milestones.  In September, Sport Aviation published a feature article describing the origin and achievements of the program.  After publication we heard from educators and aviation enthusiasts all over the country.  We hosted visitors and answered emails and phone calls from others interested in the possibility of constructing aircraft in or for schools.  While we don't claim to have all the answers or assume that the way our project is organized will work for everyone, we are happy to share our experiences, both those that succeed and those that don't.  

       In April, Mr. and Mrs. Mel Ellis of Hillsboro, Oregon, donated an engine to complete the CH-701.  The engine is a Revmaster converted Volkswagon engine.  At 2110 cc it should generate at least 60 HP.  Our initial task is to mount the engine in the 701 airframe.  Then we will wire the electrical system, plumb the fuel, install the instruments, and test run the engine.  

       This summer Mr. Smith and Mr. Steed will start to solve the issues that must be addressed before the 71 can fly.  The mount is our first challenge.  The mount we have for the 701 was designed to hold a Rotax 912 engine.  The Rotax turns the propeller in a clockwise direction when viewed from the pilot's seat.  Engines with this rotation produce left turning thrust and are mounted with a 3 degree offset to the right.  The VW engine has a counterclockwise rotation and requires an offset in the opposite direction.  Our task is to rework the mount so that the engine has an offset in the opposite direction or is at least neutral.  The 701 has a great deal of rudder authority and many have flown with zero offset.  
       Our second challenge will be to finalize the fuel system.  As the 701 exists, it has an 8 gallon header tank which is located in the cabin directly above the pilot's and passenger's knees.  This arrangement, while traditional, uses a great deal of room behind the instrument panel, complicating instrument installation, and puts the fuel in a potentially dangerous location.  We have two 5 gallon wing tanks that would work, would give us more interior room, and give us as much fuel.  The fitting and plumbing will take longer and be more complicated, but in the end it should be a more satisfactory installation.  
       The third challenge will be to install all of the instruments.  Grants from Mr. Doug Seward, Flightcom, Inc., Zenith Aircraft, our local teacher's union, and the Kitsap Community Foundation, have given us the means to procure almost all of the instruments necessary for the 701. We will create an instrument panel on the bench, install the instruments, switches, fuses, and radio, test them, and install the panel in the aircraft. 

       Once these problems are resolved, we need only to connect the control rods and cables, check everything 99 times, and prepare the test flight program.   We anticipate working on all of our tasks this summer and fall, testing the engine by next winter, test flights in the spring of 2004, and a trip to Airventure 2004 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the summer of 2004. 

       That's the plan, anyway.  

       If you would like to contact us please email Mr. Smith or  Mr. Steed   We would really like to hear from you.

Last Updated: 07/11/05 
 

Disclaimer: This page is the product of the Central Kitsap Junior High School Project SchoolFlight.