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/254584
14 Vol.3 No.2 / Februar y 2014 SPORT AVIATION PIRATES comparable length—22.5 feet versus 25 feet. The most obvious similarity in Gainzas' airplanes is the outstanding workman- ship that the two planes share. Their Lancair IV-P won the reserve grand champion award in 2006, and their Texas Sport was named a kit champion (Bronze Lindy) at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2013. Craig said that the Texas Sport's amazing fi nish was more dif cult than that of the Lancair. "With composites, I can fi ll and sand the mistakes," he said. "The fabric world is not so forgiving." Craig's commitment to outstanding workman- ship is round-the-clock: "I'm a perfectionist; I couldn't sleep at night if I didn't do a great job on the teeth I work on. It's like that with the airplanes I build; I couldn't sleep at night if it wasn't just right." He reports that his perfectionism is for himself: It isn't so important to him that others are impressed with his workmanship—it's important to him to make a nice- looking airplane. After Craig ordered the Legend Cub kit, he knew that he needed to educate himself on a new construction tech- nique: fabric covering. He took a fabric covering workshop at AirVenture and realized he needed to learn a bit more. So he called up the local junior college and got four more days' instruction from one of the teachers. The admittedly perfectionist Craig observed that the instructor wasn't very careful. When Craig was notifi ed that his Texas Sport kit was ready for delivery, he opted not to participate in the company's three- week fast-build program, saying that, "Part of the enjoyment of this experience is the build." He moved the kit into the shop in the garage that he had used for the Lancair. Craig had originally built the shop there instead of in a hangar in order to be close to the family. Then he settled into a regular routine. He had Wednesdays of , and spent them building. He also worked on the airplane one full day each weekend—sometimes two. Sandy helped with the build but acknowledged that Craig did the vast majority of the work. Craig praised the American Legend Aircraft Company for its product and service. The kit was top-notch with good quality. "It was one of the cleaner kits I've seen," he said. Craig reported that the fit and the welds were quite good. The cabin of the Legend Cub is 28.5 inches wide and 50 inches tall, much roomier than the original Piper Cub. Craig chose the optional Continental O-200D engine because of his good experience with the Continental engine in their Lancair IV-P. Photography by Michael Steineke E A A E X P _ F e b 1 4 . i n d d 1 4 EAAEXP_Feb14.indd 14 2 / 3 / 1 4 3 : 1 3 P M 2/3/14 3:13 PM