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/418587
EAA Experimenter 15 at sea level. I purchased it through Lancair, then shipped it out to Barrett Precision Engines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their makeover included disassembly, thorough inspection, bal- ancing, CermiNil-coated cylinders, chrome here and there, and custom paint on the case. "For a propeller, I went with a Hartzell three-bladed, constant speed with a 'scimitar' design. This particular pro- peller was designed as a cooperative effort between Lancair and Hartzell to match the prop to the Legacy's airframe and performance envelope." The engine is fed from a 32-gallon tank in each wing, with a left-right-both selector valve in the center console. The system includes a two-speed electric boost pump and a mechanical pump on the engine. William recalled, "Once I got started back on the air- plane, I was putting in all the time I could: late nights, week- ends, full time during my company's off-season. I'm often asked how many hours I have in it and I honestly don't have an answer. Fact is, I'm not even sure I want to know…too many! Some of the time is because I really like working on small details, which is part of the curb appeal I mentioned earlier. A lot of times people will look at an airplane and know that it's really well done without knowing why they think that. Unless you're a builder, you're not likely to pick out individual details that are done well because they sort of blur together. However, they add up in such a way that almost anyone looking at an airplane knows whether it was done right or not. It's all in the detail and the symmetry." He described an example: "I made sure the PFD and MFD instrument screens line up with both the pilot's and co- pilot's centerline so everything was visually lined up." It's interesting to carefully study the layout of his panel. You will notice that there are multitudes of things that are different sizes. However, he stresses the symmetry, and you'll notice that the edge of components line up with the edge of something else. There are no randomly placed items. None. When glancing at the panel, it's not immediately obvious that everything lines up; however, just a one-second glance tells you that something about it is "right," but you can't put your finger on it. William said, "I have to give Valin Thorn at Starflight credit for the fiberglass instrument panel frame and center console as well as some other molded parts they made for the airplane. The four-lever throttle quadrant that's part of the center console and the overhead/ hung rudder pedals are also from Starflight. I spent a good bit of time do- ing bodywork on the interior components to get a perfect surface with flawless transitions. The time spent was well worth it. I think the final result matches the lines of the airplane perfectly. "After installing all the electrical components (lights, servos, antennas, motors, etc.), I did all the airframe wir- ing myself, terminating the various circuits to plugs and connectors at the backside of the instrument panel. About a year before the completion of the project, I began working on the equipment selection and layout of the actual panel. Aerotronics of Billings, Montana, assisted with this process, and after about eight layout revisions, I said, 'Build it!' They fabricated the instrument panel, and in my opinion, did an outstanding job of it. "I see the Legacy as being a very state-of-the-art airplane. So, that being the case, I tried to take advantage of as much advanced technology as possible. That's why I have a dual- screen Garmin G3X and the Garmin GTN 750. What's a glass airplane without a lot of glass in the panel, right? And in case the 'glass' breaks, top center in the panel are three Mid-Con- tinent backup primary flight instruments. "The fun part of those kinds of touch screen electronics is that you feel as if you're constantly working with an iPad. It's truly amazing, the vast amounts of data that is literally at your fingertips. Thanks, Garmin. A Starfl ight panel surround, console, throttle quadrant, and rudder pedals are used. William is proud of the panel's symmetry and clean look. Looking at his airplane and his attention to detail, it's hard to believe that William Ford is an arborist and regularly wields a chainsaw.