S-6 Oil Access Door
Monday, August 31, 2010

Since I apparently like to make extra work for myself, I am making my own oil access door. I wanted something that fit a little better than the factory door. The stock door is a flat piece of aluminum that doesn't really have the same shape as the cowl. I fiberglassed my own door using the cowl as a form. Then once the door was done and cut out, I traced it on to the cowl and cut the opening out of the cowl.

To give the door something to close against, I also had to fiberglass a lip inside the cut out on the cowl. I made this lip the same way I made the door.

Now the door is finished and the lip is glued on. I want to hide the hinges so I ordered the same hinges that were used on my S-10's oil access door. I will use flush rivets with the hinges and then fill them with putty to hide them. The only thing I should see on the door is the two 1/4 turn butterfly fasteners I'm using to hold it closed.

Photo Log: 24 Aug 10
Photo Log: 31 Aug 10

Rick's S-19 First Flight!
Saturday, August 28, 2010

S-19 first flights are becoming a common occurrence these days! That's a good thing! We have another S-19 flying the friendly skies. Rick Hayes did his first flight in his new red and white S-19. Congrats Rick-looks great!

More info on the forums.

Welcome MGL Avionics
Friday, August 27, 2010

MGL Avionics has joined the RANS CLAN as a new advertiser. MGL offers many different styles and sizes of high quality EFIS units.

To learn more about their full line of products, and view a cool video of their EFIS in action, visit their website at www.mglavionics.com

Superflite Fabric Covering Workshop
Friday, August 27, 2010

Wicks is hosting a Superflite covering workshop on Saturday, September 18th from 7:30 to 5:00 pm.

For more information, click here.

Superflite Rib-Stitching Video
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Molly provided a video for those of you that my be building an S-9 or S-10 (or any other plane that requires rib stitching) on how to tie the knot.

You can play the video right here, or view it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rneWclUSONw

 
 

Welcome Superflite
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I would like to welcome Superflite as a new advertiser on the RANS CLAN website. Superflite is the covering system trusted by RANS and is provided with their kits.

My entire airplane is covered and painted with the Superflite system and I am very  pleased with the ease of use and the super shine of the finish paint.

www.superflite.com

Cowl...Again
Sunday August 22, 2010

I can't even remember how many times I've fit and re-fit this cowling. Steve and I fit it once, but then we realized that the engine needed a prop spacer. So then my dad and I fit it after I installed the prop spacer.

For reasons I can't remember, I had to re-fit it a third time. The third time I did it myself since my dad flew back home to PA. Folks, you just can't properly fit a cowling by yourself. I remember stacking boxes up under the cowl to try to hold it in position while I drilled the holes.

I did get it fit by myself though...with one not-so-small problem. The left side was about an inch higher than the right side! This made the top cowl impossible to fit.

By now I am tired of drilling holes and then patching them with fiberglass. I begged and pleaded with Steve to drive the 1.5 hours out to my house to help me fit this cowl one final time. It worked! It's done. It fits perfectly now. As you can see in the picture I was so happy I just wanted to paint it with a can of paint and call it DONE!

But I should probably do it correctly. I will need to remove the cowl, open the vents on top, and then cut the aft end of the top and bottom. Then I will prep it for primer and paint. My goal is to finish this up before it gets too cold in Michigan to paint.

Foreign Travel
Monday August 16, 2010

I received an e-mail from Tim about a trip he took from Germany to France and Spain!

Tim flies a RANS S-6S with an 80 horse Rotax 912. You may view his write up and many more photos at this link:

http://www.voss-aero.com/albums/spain2010/Spanien2010.html

Bahamas Trip 2010
Wednesday August 11, 2010

By Lynn Coltharp

On June the 11th six airplanes took off from the Tulsa area for a trip to the Bahamas. Tommy G with wife Tiffanie and children Reagan and Brock in a Cherokee Six, Joe J Jr. and wife Audi in a Mooney, Joe J Sr.and wife Helen in a Mooney, Richard H and wife Pam in a Rans S6, Paul Shireman in a Rans S6 and Lynn C in a Rans S6S.

As you immediately noted there are considerable speed differences. The Rans S6’s flew together and the “fast guys” flew together. We would meet Tom G and his wife Deborah in Florida since he was down there picking up a CT cruiser. That would make seven airplanes going to the Bahamas. [read more here]