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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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Well, it's not really called "Lancair Builder's Camp" but that's what I'll be
doing.
I'm at a unique point in the lives of both me and my 360 project. My old job
just ended (company ran out of money) and my new job can't afford to bring me
on full-time until mid-summer. So I have some time to kill.
My 360 is essentially ready to skin the stub wings, close the outer wings,
close the tail, and install the vertical and horizontal tails to the
fuselage. A big chunk of work, to be sure, but one where a modest amount of
professional help can really leverage things.
I visited Larry Graves' AirCrafters LLC Builder Assistance shop in
Watsonville last week during a trip to Monterey and the Bay Area with my wife
and mother-in-law. I dragged them into the shop, and we were so impressed
with what we saw and whom we met that my wife is almost begging me to go up
there for several weeks and "just get it done".
The suspicious side of me thinks she just wants to park her truck in the
garage for a change, and get me out of the house for a while....
So I went through the construction manual and created a list of tasks to be
accomplished. This was very detailed, such as:
Step 1, Locate and Drill Holes for Aileron Bellcrank Brackets
Step 2, Install Nutplates for Aileron Bellcrank Brackets
This was required because Larry's shop didn't really know the current status
of my project nor what exactly I was hoping to accomplish. With the detailed
list it all becomes clear. Plus, it helped me plan what parts and equipment
to bring along.
Next I estimated the time required to get each task done, and Larry's shop
guys did the same. Our estimates matched within 10%, which is pretty darn
close. So now we both agree on what needs to be done and how long it will
take. Having this common expectation will go a long way towards a happy
result.
The remaining task is to divvy up the work. How much do I do, how much do
they do, and how much do we do together? Our goal is to accomplish all of
the above in six weeks. The current plan is that they'll do about 60 hours
of work and I'll do about 240 hours, so I need to be working about 10 hours
per day for the four days per week I'll be there. (I've gotta get home to
play hockey on Sundays and Mondays, plus I'd like to stay married....) We
have not yet itemized which specific tasks they'll do, and which ones I'll do.
I'll be trailering the plane up there next week, and starting to work on it
the following week. I'll be back in the lush paradise that is Palmdale every
weekend, and back for good by late June.
I may actually catch up to Dan Olsen this way. (Right now I'm about a year
behind him.) Of course, he'll claim that I cheated...
I'll provide occasional reports on this as it goes. My objective is not so
much to say "Today we did this..." but rather to point out how to make a
visit to a builder support center a productive and satisfying experience.
Also, if I discover any good building tips I'll share those, too. Maybe I'll
write an article for LNN and Sport Aviation and become one of those rich and
famous aviation journalists! After all, I can't become a publishing mogul
anymore -- Marv's got that spot sewn up!
- Rob Wolf
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LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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