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Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:49:40 -0500
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Subject: RE: Still Building After All These Years
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From: "Laznicka, Garry [MCCUS]" <GLaznic@MCCUS.JNJ.com>

Peter,

Very nice summary. I am in the same boat, even so I am still 10 - 12 =
years from retirement, I have been building my L-360 carbon for 6 1/2 =
years in my spare time and I have been faced with the same dilemmas and =
revelations. I feel, that as long as I have a job to finance this hobby =
I'll keep working on this.

I have a question for you and other 320/360 builders and flyers:
* What is the weight of your RUDDER? (I have completed mine and it feels =
extremely heavy. It is fully balanced. To fully balance it, I had to =
extend the horn 1" forward and fill it with tungsten rods.)

Garry V. Laznicka
L-360c MK-II 85%

-----Original Message-----
From: Barber [mailto:pkbarber@charter.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 4:38 PM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: Still Building After All These Years


It=92s an anniversary! Ten years ago a truck pulled up in front of our=20
garage here in Reno with a crate containing the parts necessary to build =

a Lancair 320 kitplane. My wife and I had little experience with=20
building anything, much less an airplane. Our tool collection consisted=20
of a few screwdrivers, a set of wrenches, and a hammer. We didn=92t even =

own a power drill. However, although we hadn=92t spent a night at a=20
Holiday Inn Express, both of us had just completed a three-day workshop=20
on composite construction and we were prepared to put this kit together=20
in our spare time. Wow, were we na=EFve.

After 10 years and 3500 hours we=92re still building. We=92ve learned a =
lot,=20
we know how to use tools that we didn=92t even know existed when we=20
started, and we have gained the utmost respect (awe is probably a better =

word) for all of those who have gone before us and built their own=20
Lancairs. In the beginning, we believed that this would be an assembly=20
job (that=92s the na=EFve part). Now we know that each Lancair, =
including=20
ours, is a hand-crafted one-of-a-kind airplane.

We=92re now retired and able to work on the project for four or five =
hours=20
most days and the progress from week to week is actually noticeable. How =

folks are able to build these airplanes while working a full-time job is =

a mystery to us. We made little headway on our project before we retired =

=96 much of the time was spent dusting off the airplane and trying to=20
remember where we were.

We are extremely grateful to Marv for starting the LML and to the many=20
Lancair builders and flyers who contribute their experiences and=20
insights to the List. Whenever we start a new task we first look through =

the LML archives so that we can benefit from the experiences of the=20
Lancair builder community. Additionally, we have and continue to benefit =

greatly from on-site advice and help from Gary Martin and Bucky =
Whittier.

Who knows what percentage we have completed or when this airplane will=20
fly =96 we decline to answer these questions (or even think about the=20
answers). The airplane is on its landing gear (outback) with the gear=20
doors complete and the hydraulic cylinders installed. The Mk II=20
horizontal stabilizer (including elevator and trim tab) has been=20
fabricated, but is not yet permanently attached to the fuselage. The=20
wings are closed and the wingtips and ailerons are complete. The flaps=20
go up and down under electric power, but are not yet closed. After only=20
a few more minor tasks (humor intended) - forward-hinged canopy, engine=20
installation, instrument panel, etc. - we=92ll be installing our =
Zavatson=20
engine cowling and cooling system.

Did I mention that my wife Karen has measured, cut out, wet out and=20
applied all of the BID layups? To answer the often-asked question: yes,=20
she does have a sister, but unfortunately her sister has no interest in=20
airplane construction.

In reading the LML, it=92s reassuring to be reminded that there are =
still=20
many 320/360 builders quietly laboring away in their garages, workshops, =

and hangars. I am sure that when we are all flying someday, like those=20
who have gone before us we=92ll look back with pride on our planes, even =

though our projects may have taken a little longer than expected.

Peter Barber