Category Archives: Learning

Non-build, learning steps

Practice kit done!

We’ve finished it! I had promised that before we start on the actual plane that we’d finish at least one of the practice kits, and last night we pulled the final rivet. It isn’t exceedingly pretty, not is it perfect, … Continue reading

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Practice project: Almost done!

Yesterday I thought it’d be more advantageous for us to start working during the day, and as a result, we had a marathon of sorts. We worked on and finished 4 steps! Now we’re down to the last one. So … Continue reading

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Practice project trailing edge

Continuing on with the practice project, tonight we installed the leading edge wedge and through-drilled and clecoed. The challenge here was drilling at 84 degrees to the skin. For that I laser cut a gauge on the Glowforge, according to … Continue reading

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Fabrication challenge!

The next chapter in the saga was to fabricate something from scratch. The instructions call for making this special dimple/bucking bar for the small area of the ribs that you can’t fit any other tool into: The tool we need … Continue reading

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Practice Kit, Part Deux

Having survived Practice Kit Part #1, we’ve now moved on to Part #2: the Aerfoil Section! The goal for this kit is to further hone your skills by building a small (12″ wide) aerfoil section, which includes 2 skins, 4 … Continue reading

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Big time learning session

Tonight the 1/8″ dimple die set arrived, and so we jumped right in and finished dimpling the outside edge of part 1 of the practice project. We tried dimpling a couple with the locking die pliers we bought, and then … Continue reading

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The Learning Project

Woohoo! It arrived! Well, it arrived a week ago…I’m just starting the blog today. So here it is…our learning project. It’s an all-metal kit that mimics a section of an aircraft flap, or the device used to increase lift as … Continue reading

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Baby Steps

Okay. So, all projects have to have a first step…beyond the decision to start the project! Ours started on the Vans Aircraft website, poring over the different plans and options, looking at the requirements and FAQs. Where to start?? As … Continue reading

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