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/194874
T h e 2 013 A ir Ve n t ur e Gr a n d C h a m p i o n H o m e b uil t s With the help of Jabe and Bruce, Jay designed his own throttle quadrant. By creating channels in the throttle lever, he was able to build micro switches into the handle at the top of the throttle, allowing him to control flap position and speed brakes with his thumb during his approaches. It meant he could keep his left hand on the stick and his right hand on the throttle through the entire approach. He installed micro switches in the canopy channels that enabled a green light and oral alert message to ensure that the canopy is always locked down securely. Once he had hooked up his wires, routed the fuel system, and run his links to the engine, he decided to have a party. In September 2008, he invited 70 of his closest friends from EAA, his flying club, and other aviation associates to a "first run" party in his backyard. Firing up the engine for the first time was an accomplishment he wanted to share, and probably there was something in him that just wanted to show people he was making progress and had every intention of completing the project. Though he was setting himself up for a possible embarrassment, the engine fired up and ran beautifully. Just about a year later, August 7, 2009, he got his certificate of airworthiness. There was no party on the day of the first flight. Though he agonized over his decision, he made the right one by turning over the initial flight and all of the Phase One flight testing to Joe Gauthier. Joe took it up for the first time on August 14, 2009. Phase One went well with only one minor issue involving the right brake, which made Jay very happy that the aircraft was in experienced hands. Jay wisely decided to do some transition training before flying the Legacy himself and considers it one of the best investments he ever made. The final touch was the paint scheme. With the help of Scheme Designers, Jay spent four-and-a-half months designing, amending, and finalizing the paint scheme before turning the aircraft over to Ed's Aircraft Refinishing for the stunning application of lines and checks. It was time to show it off. He flew it to AirVenture 2011 and came home with a Bronze Lindy. He went back in 2012, with a dozen improvements, but went home with nothing. In 2013, after another dozen refinements, he won Reserve Grand Champion at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo and four months later took the Gold Lindy at AirVenture. The award validated Jay's pursuit of perfection. No Cirrus, Cessna, Piper or Beech has ever left the factory with the level of quality and finish found in Jay's Lancair Legacy. It's a real credit to the art and craftsmanship of homebuilding. Author's Note: Jay kept an extensive photographic history of the project, which is available online; visit www.Lancair-N26XY.com. Jay and his grand champion kit-built Lancair Legacy. 14 Vol.2 No.10 / October 2013 Photography by Russ Munson