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/513537
20 Vol.4 No.5 / May 2015 AN ARIZONA ESCAPADE N356AZ is powered by a 100-hp Rotax 912 ULS and a three-blade Kiev prop from the Ukraine. The prop looks big at 74.8 inches but weighs only 8 pounds. Two 13-gallon wing tanks feed a central header tank. The Escapade kit was upgraded to include newer details related to the bungee sus- pension and nose-gear shock system. The windscreen was upgraded to a thicker molded acrylic version by Steve Dentz. As a sport pilot, Dennis can't fl y at night, but he installed a powerful landing light by Aero LED to improve visibility in the airport traf c pattern as well as Aero LED's nav and strobe wingtip lights. The only major airframe change he made was to replace the spring system that holds the fl aps in the retracted position while on the ground with a small hydraulic lift strut. Dennis said the engine installation and wiring was the most complicated part of the project. He had some local assistance, and his engine work was checked by a certifi ed Rotax mechanic. An avionics instructor from the local Pima College Aviation Technology program checked out the instrument wir- ing. Throughout the project, he got advice from the Just Aircraft builder community by way of the Wings Forum at www.WingsForum.com . The section of this website for Just Aircraft builders, which covers the Summit, Escapade, Highlander, and SuperSTOL, has more than 15,000 posts and more than 1,900 subject threads. The Crowley Escapade El Ese fi rst fl ew on September 11, 2013. Its empty weight came in at 770 pounds, about 100 more than expected because of the paint and custom additions. In October 2013, Dennis fl ew the Escapade to Casa Grande, Arizona, for the Copperstate Fly-In where it won Best Custom Tube-and-Fabric and the Copperstate Grand Champion Award. It was there the judges planted the idea that he should take the airplane on the 1,600 miles to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. When he arrived at Oshkosh in July 2014, the air- plane had fl own only 68 hours, including the 22 hours to get to Wittman Airport. Dennis started his journey with just a little more than 120 hours in his logbook. CUS TOM MODIFIC ATIONS When his plane was judged at Copperstate, the judges asked to see Dennis' builder's book. A newcomer to custom-built aircraft, he had never heard of having an album of photos and documentation to chronicle the construction. Having a com- prehensive builder's album can influence the judges, and there are a few points to be earned in the scoring for a well- done builder's book. Thankfully, Dennis and Barb had taken many photos during construction. When they arrived at AirVenture 2014, their documentation was unrivaled. It began with a two-page detailed listing of at least 40 unique, custom features on the airplane. Some were obvious and so unusual as to lead the viewer into thinking not of an Escapade but rather some rare, classic light plane. Others were the small details seen everywhere throughout the lux- ury interior. Here is a sample: Escapade and the Porsche 356 at the 2013 Copperstate Fly-In. Photography courtesy of Dennis Crowley