Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/118927
W h a t o ur M e m b e r s a r e B uil d in g Tony's wish came true in January 2009, when CubCrafters announced the kit. Since he was still working full time and had long commutes, Tony planned the purchases of the components to begin in late 2010. His planning was impeccable; knowing that he could not devote all of his time to the project and managing the finances drove the stages of completion. "As much as I would have loved to buy the whole thing at once and just build and fly, the realities of work and other responsibilities meant I had to be patient," Tony said. Sound familiar? As I completed that first visit to Tony's hangar, there was no question in my mind that Tony would be completing and flying his Carbon Cub on schedule. A neat layout of parts and tools, with detailed labeling, lined the wall next to the fuselage parts. If you have built an aircraft, you know very well that seesaw feeling of being torn in different directions with work and family schedules, which can derail a builder quickly. It's reported that less than 30 percent of kit buyers actually finish and fly their projects. Many projects get sold partially completed or end up sitting in a corner of the garage or hangar. Not Tony. Six months later he completed the wings and began ordering more components. In April 2012, the last box of component parts arrived from CubCrafters. In June, Tony called me for fabric covering advice, and we went to Bipe Inc., a restoration facility nearby, for two days of hands-on practice with owner Jerry Stadtmiller, who also happens to by my husband.. Te fuselage af of the tandem cockpit. 26 Vol.2 No.4 / April 2013 Tony has now completed the fuselage structure, the extended baggage compartment, control cables and pulleys, installed the emergency locator transmitter, boot cowl, and fuel system, bringing the aircraft up to the fabric covering stage. Tony remains patient in his plan to be flying his Carbon Cub this year or next. He said, "Although I am logging my hours, I decided at the beginning that I wasn't going to track progress or meet a timeline. A quality completion is much more important to me than meeting a deadline or comparing my progress against others." I asked Tony what his biggest takeaway is from the experience so far as a first-time builder. "Two things," he said. "First, I had no idea how much fun this would be. I thought I was more of a flier than a builder, but this process has been therapeutic. Second, I am simply amazed at the quality and completeness of the kit. Support has been excellent for all my beginner's questions. Manuals are well written and understandable. To me and my mission, this could not be a more perfect choice." Lisa Turner, EAA 509011, is an aerospace manufacturing engineer who has built a Pulsar XP, a Kolb Mk. III, and the major portion of a RotorWay Exec helicopter. Lisa is a private pilot, A&P; mechanic, and EAA technical counselor/flight advisor. In 2008 Lisa was the first woman to be named an amateur-built designated airworthiness representative for the FAA.