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Don Williams, our main mentor,
keeps a team pushing forward on the 601XL. The fuselage is in the
'canoe' stage. Much is still clecoed, or temporarily fastened,
together, as additional parts are being fit. |
| Our primary goal is to finish the
CH-701 and fly it by next summer. We are at the 90% done stage with
50% to go. There were many small jobs that couldn't be done at the
time, or were postponed until later. Now, it's later, and all of the
small things must be finished.
Here, Chris makes a mockup for the port
pushrod cover.
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George has created an inspection
access cover for the 601. This is a small part but a very intricate
and time consuming one to create and install. A hole must be cut in
the wing skin, then a piece to fit in the hole, then a ring to hold the
two together.
The ring receives nutplates and is then
riveted to the wingskin. Later the cover may be installed and
removed repeatedly.
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| Much of what we do is about the
basics: precision, tolerance, and tool use. Here George is
creating small parts with little more than a Sharpie, a hacksaw, files,
and a drill. |
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The design of the 701 has changed
since we started building. Originally, the doors hinged at the
front. Now we are going to hinge our doors at the top so that we may
fly with them open in warm weather. Here, Mike is creating a cutting
template so that we may accurately cut and fit the channel which holds the
hinge. |
| With the donation of a Volkswagen
engine our existing Rotax mount became a concern. It was canted 3°
to starboard to compensate for the rotation of a 912. The VW rotates
in the opposite direction. Even if it could be made to fit, the
thrust would be 6° off.
We decided to weld up a new mount. Here
Steve has created a jig with the engine's bolt pattern so that we can weld
without igniting the engine.
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If you would like to contact us please email Mr. Smith
or Mr. Steed We would really like to hear from you.
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