I am bemused to realize that I started this blog a little over eight years ago and this is my 600th posting. I remember being nervous back then, wondering if I would be able to find anything to write about. I made a commitment to try it for 90 days and then decide whether to […]
Circular Hole Cutter
I get to use some cool tools while building my Bede BD-4C airplane. The latest acquisition has been a Circular Hole Cutter. By adjusting the arm, I can cut a hole up to four inches in diameter. In these photos, I have it adjusted to cut a hole 1.5 inches in diameter. The instructions say […]
Rudder is On!
It has been almost 13 months since I “finished” assembling the rudder of my Bede BD-4C airplane. Until recently, all of the parts have been waiting patiently in plastic bags. Over the last ten days, I have been finishing up the steel parts for the counterbalance arm, painting everything, test fitting, disassembling, adjusting, reassembling, test fitting, […]
Nut Starter Tool
One of the opportunities challenges of assembling my airplane has been starting nuts in hard impossible to reach places. Two of the nuts are in a position that is even difficult to reach with needle nose pliers. I remembered seeing a flat nut starter tool years ago which would be perfect for these nuts so […]
Finishing Up the Torque Tube Mounts
Over the last couple of weeks, I have finished up the mounting brackets and braces for the control stick torque tube on my Bede BD-4C. This was very fiddly slow work because it takes so long to disassemble, adjust, reassemble, and test. I fabricated the last of the braces and drilled all of the holes, […]
Hawk Update
I checked on “our” hawk and learned that he was taken to the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, MO. He is a Cooper’s Hawk with a fractured right wing. Fortunately, he is eating and seems to be doing well. I was told that he would be recuperating for two to three weeks.
Hawk Visitor
We had a hawk visitor last night. Candy looked out the front door to discover this poor bird sitting on a chair on our front porch. Ms. Klinger of the St. Charles County Division of Humane Services was good enough to come collect it, quite gently, thank you. By the time you read this, the […]
B-25 Pumpkin Drop / Bombing Run
Great fun was to be had at St. Charles Flying Service’s second annual pumpkin drop at St. Charles County Smartt Airport this afternoon. The festivities were opened with a cluster bombing run by “Show Me”, the B-25 based on the field. I did take my shot at the target but, as expected, found that a […]