All Fired Up!
Hey everbody! We are all fired up to finish our prototype. The engine and it’s systems are 100% complete as of yesterday. Filled her with aero oil. The prop is adjusted for initial runs. The brakes are operational. Our punch list is down to a few things. The big ones still to work on: cowl flaps, new scissor links for the gear legs, canopy latch, mount the wings and drill to final tight tolerance bolts, wing gap filler fairings, radio antenna cable bnc connectors, audio panel harness, mount gun blisters and iron sights.
The design for the cowl flaps is mostly done, same for the canopy latch. The scissor links are designed and ready to fabricate. We still need to design a drill fixture for the wing bolts drill and ream operation. These parts and fixtures should be completed over the next few weeks. Then weight and balance and prep everything for inspection. FAA registration paperwork was sent. We have our N number: N936SB.
Our progress after Oshkosh was slowed by external influences, those are not completely going away, but we are fighting thru them. Basically “resources” being stretched thin. For instance: Scott has been working heavy hours on other work that has tied up the mill and lathe. So we are waiting for an opportunity to machine the scissor links and canopy latch parts. The crew has also been busy with other obligations. I’ve been sick a couple times now - some kind of crud - don’t think it is Covid. Plus other obligations (family and external), etc… However, our plan is to work on the cowl flaps this week and get the engine fired-up.
Nothing standing in the way now for running the engine and making carb and prop adjustments. We don’t need cowl flaps - we wont have the cowl on anyway. We are planning to video our first start-up and show everyone a good look at the LiteFighter prototype. I can’t wait to hear her fire-off for the first time on our plane! Will post it on our YouTube channel. Be sure to like and subscribe! We will be posting a lot of videos as we get her going.
FYI - if you are interested in purchasing a kit of our LiteFighter P-40 or P-36, we are going to announce shortly that we are ready to accept initial deposits for them. This will be a $1,500 Refundable deposit. We wont touch the money until we announce the kits are going into production and you agree to purchase the first assemblies. Then it will be applied toward any of the kit assemblies, options, merch, etc… This initial deposit’s purpose is to inform us of the number of likely initial kit purchasers and help us determine how much capitol will be needed and how to structure our business. A few kits is pretty easy to do with our current methods and equipment, space available, etc... A bunch of kits is a different animal all together. Oshkosh showed us we have some serious potential for the later. By having the deposits in hand, it will allow us to seek the capitol needed for either scenario.
Again, we are fired-up! It is getting exciting! We have been waiting for this day to arrive - and it’s here!
Big things are in the works, keep checking in with us.