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 Cub comes together, showing the structure of the front cockpit. Tony Creasy's Carbon Cub EX Helping a new builder By Lisa Turner When I talk to first-time aircraft builders, I begin by telling them my three rules of self-preservation. First, pick an aircraft that has been proven and builders have been flying; second, check out the kit manufacturer to make sure it is financially stable and will be around when you need it; third, call up three builders who built and flew the kit you are thinking of building and ask them how things went. When Tony Creasy, EAA 758962, called me to ask if I'd be his technical counselor for a Carbon Cub build, I was thrilled. I knew about CubCrafters and its products, so I knew that Tony had met the self-preservation test. As an engineer, I am always trying to assemble a logical path to success. This may disappoint aircraft builders who take the meaning of "experimental" to extremes, but there are enough unknowns with even the best of plans. True experiments in flying machines are a critical component in flight 24 Vol.2 N o.4 / A pril 2013 design progress, but they are probably not the best choice for the first-time, weekend builder. I followed Tony's directions through the mountains of western North Carolina to a grass strip in a private fly-in community called Tusquittee Landing. The small two-lane road twisted through forest and meadow with the tall Tusquittee Mountains rising steeply on my left. Hangars and homes dotted the length of the 2,700-foot, neatly trimmed grass strip on the right. I found Tony in his hangar with boxes of parts and the fuselage next to a 1945 Piper J-3. As I took in the view, Tony came over to greet me. He pointed to the J-3 and said, "Have to have something to fly while building!" Fascinated, I asked Tony to tell me how he came to the Carbon Cub EX decision.