Closing In
We are closing in on finishing our prototype P-36 Hawk LiteFighter. A few more landing gear and misc. parts to finish-up. Our plan is to do that within a week. Then we want to do some engine runs, taxi testing and systems checks from our hangar/base at KWST. Then pack her up and haul the plane in our box trailer to the Sun N Fun airshow for display. Right after the show, we will take her to Leesburg Florida for ground testing, FAA DAR inspection and then flight testing in mid April. Our goal was to fly her before SNF, but the reality is what it is plan now is to be ready to fly right after SNF and stay in FL until we are sure she can fly back home to CT. I don’t want to disassemble her again and trailer it home. That is the backup plan if scheduling conflicts or systems issues arise. We have a hangar lined-up at KLEE and the DAR is available. I can’t wait to get down there in the sunny warm weather! The landing gear parts are taking longer than anticipated, but are coming out great! Not something to rush. We are getting our punch-list items checked-off and making great progress.
What we have been working on: Besides working on fabricating landing gear parts: we finished the heat shield/boot cowl and added all the nut plates to it and the cowl support frame. Installed the GPS and ADSB units, cables and antennae. Ran the engine again - has been a while now. - carb and propeller are still not dialed-in. Installed the arm rest and map box, with map light. Designed and fabricated the retractable landing light assembly. New temper foam seat cushions and covers. Worked on our control stops. Added stops for elevator and rudder systems. Drilled and reamed the spar bolt holes at the inboard to outboard wing joints. This was a big job due to designing and fabricating a jig to drill these in-place on the plane. Note to self - change this to a milled assembly for the kit! These bolts are tight-tolerance, high-shear bolts. The joint has to be perfect. Got it done! Installed the wing gap strip covers, nut plates and tensioning system. Swapped out our dual CHT gage for an EGT/CHT gage and added an exhaust sender and firewall poke-thru. Designed and fabricated the canopy latch and mounting brackets and the push to talk switch installation on the control stick grip. Made a new hinge pin for the control column too - no slop at all now. During this effort, we also had to upgrade the hubs, wheels and tires on our trailer and fix the side door latch. Replaced the Garmin backup camera on the truck as well.
This week: Finish the landing gear parts! Then primer and paint them. Then lift the front of the plane and swap the gear legs out. Bleed the brakes and complete their install. Finish the canopy latch brackets and install the latch. Install the landing gear light. Adjust the ailerons for proper travel and balance. Next week we will run the engine and dial in the carburetor jetting and then propeller pitch. Re-check all the systems.
Then the following week: disassemble the airframe, load into the trailer. Pack the trailer with all needed parts, tools, equipment and the booth tent, signs and banners for the SNF booth. Drive! We will be bringing our GoPro’s and gear for making videos of the process. Will post asap. Closing In on it!
