Quoted from flydog

Lawrence Airport?

Yes! Lawrence airport. Are you close by?    
Eventually I will be able to fit myself in a cub or similar. Then get my tail wheel endorsement! For now I am so excited to be flying! Thanks to everybody for the support! Now the building... Weight loss and the Flying continue! I still cannot believe I am flying!

Such an amazing Man that has overcome so many obstacles, with great success, Congrats Brian

Yes, I'm in Westford. Got my private in a Citabria at Four Star Aviation about 15 years ago.

Quoted from flydog

Yes, I'm in Westford. Got my private in a Citabria at Four Star Aviation about 15 years ago.

Well if you find yourself in my area give me a call! Come on by the hanger. 978-979-5128

Quoted from theecoop

Such an amazing Man that has overcome so many obstacles, with great success, Congrats Brian

Thanks Dave. Also Thank you for all the help and advice along the way!

Dude!!! DEPLOY!!! DEPLOY!!!!!

Oh, never mind. I thought you were inverted.

Quoted from Sterling Silver

Dude!!! DEPLOY!!! DEPLOY!!!!!

Oh, never mind. I thought you were inverted.

Lol sorry guys!darn iPhone. I try but don't know they are upside down !

What do you do with a mis-drilled axel. You cut it in half and make a wing rack out of it!

Using clamps I can adjust height!

Foam rib jig. Set fuselage to zero degrees. Set rib to zero. After many careful measurements I then carefully drilled pilot holes from behind to make sure I had everything lined up!

Wing set to 3 degrees. Zero angle no washout. And an updated photo of me. Nice being in the hanger in the summer, open the hanger doors. Last summer building stopped due to not wanting to be I the basement on nice days! Plus the sound of Airplanes is motivating!i lost the weight I gained on vacation plus 2 pounds more! Tail is only temporary Clamped into place. First I want to set wings then tail in case I need to shim tail to align with wings!

Brian,
That last picture makes me think that your letting your building skills go to your head!

Quoted from bigbrixx1

Oh and I feel I should mention the 4 pounds I gained on vacation......3 are gone! Also exciting news! I started my flight training yesterday! Finally got to a low enough weight! I am training on a CTLS light sport aircraft. I plan to get my light sport certificate! I know I will eventually need a tail dragged endorsement! But I fit very comfortably in this plane. It is local and I LOVE the flying. I cannot believe I have finally reached the stage in which I can fly! It is AWESOME! Sadly I was soooo excited I didn't take any pics. But no worries. I will make up for it in next weeks lesson! Thank you everybody for all your support over the last 18 months! The build continues! But now also the flight training! I still cannot believe it!

Awesome!
Hey, I picked up my tail-dragger endorsement while I was originally learning to fly in my Aeronca 11AC. Once you find a TW instructor you will have no problem adding it to your sport certificate.... Probably like everyone else on the board does, I remember that first feeling of flying, then even more so the first time there was no one in the right seat... hard to explain to others, but so incredible to be able to replay in my own head forever moving forward... Keep enjoying making your dreams come true!  

Your wing rack is impressive. Looks like an airplane so far.

WOW you are getting close to cover. That is when you get to cover up all that fantastic wood work. But you know what comes after that and engine installation it is FLIGHT TIME. You will remember this journey with great fondness for the rest of your life.

Thanks guys! This really is an exciting time for me! Vmax starting to come together! And the flying! AWESOME! The wing rack are simple, but very effective! Nice to re-purpose junk I have lying around! The wing stands took about one hour to make. Once wings are set I can start covering them!

Second wing in place. Everything lining up nice!

Brian,

I love this thread and have been lurking on here for over a year and am really looking forward to seeing the covering process. I hope you document it as well as you have everything else to this point. Are you going to learn as you go or are you going to do one of the sport air workshops? I have done the short forum at Oshkosh and realize I will probably need to do the workshop whenever the time comes but I would love to hear what it is like if you do.

FYI - your pictures look correct on my iPad but several are upside down on my work computer. Strange. But I like them anyway. Keep them coming.

Quoted from JWinter

Brian,

I love this thread and have been lurking on here for over a year and am really looking forward to seeing the covering process. I hope you document it as well as you have everything else to this point. Are you going to learn as you go or are you going to do one of the sport air workshops? I have done the short forum at Oshkosh and realize I will probably need to do the workshop whenever the time comes but I would love to hear what it is like if you do.

FYI - your pictures look correct on my iPad but several are upside down on my work computer. Strange. But I like them anyway. Keep them coming.

Glad to hear you are getting something out if this thread! It has become a bit more than just a build thread... More of a journey with a build along the way! I hope this inspires others to go out and chase their dreams! I am... And having a blast doing it! I plan on covering with stewards adhesive and painting with latex house paint. The sport air work shops focus on stitz covering process and none are close to me. I have been watching the videos and with my modeling background I plan on trying it myself. I will start with bottom of horizontal stabilizer see what happens! I try to keep the pics upright, I take them with an iPhone and view and load them with an iPad. As a result they all look upright to me! Here is another update! Everything going together smoothly at this point! And yes I plan on continuing with the document until completion!

A few more. Plus made a panel out of junk plywood for fit! Looks good to me! Next will transfer onto a good piece of plywood! Also the wife stopped by to check out where the funds (and I) have been going!

Nice progress, as we've come to expect from you!

That hangar looks like the aviation equivalent of a "garage-mahal"!

By the smile on your wife's face, I'd say she's pretty happy with what you're accomplishing.

Lynn

wow, makes me want to get back to work on my own Max, will be a long time before i'm where you are at with yours. keep it up.

Is that an EAA chapter hanger? Looking good on your progress.Hope you have a good place to do your covering in, will it be at the hanger?

Nice pictures, your wife and the plane make a good memory pic. She is be very proud of you, I can assure that.
Now that you are in the building process, Are you going to build the enclosed canopy? Is a must for the winter time.
Congratulations on your magnificent work.

Yes EAA CH-106. One of two hangers! It is heaven! There is a CH701 under construction to my right. A Sonex to my left under construction and a long easy that just entered phase 2 of flying across from me! Relatively busy airport. EAA hanger seems to be the place for pilots to stop by before and after flights! I have to tell you guys. My little wooden airplane garners a LOT of attention! Yes Ricardo I have already build the enclosed version cockpit ! It's like a flying convertible! Well soon to be flying! And yes guys my wife is very proud of the progress I have made on all fronts! I wouldn't be where I am today without her. Just got my N number for the Minimax! For 10 dollars I reserved N417BJ that's our anniversary date and initials! Wow did I get points for that one 😉! And once the wing struts are on and wings straight they will come off and the covering will begin, I plan on doing it right in the hanger !

Wow it's been a busy few weeks! I have over 15 hours flying time. LOVE IT!!!!! Been hiking, biking and out on the motorcycle enjoying the remainder of summer! Lost 4 more pounds! And even been working on the VMax! I have Been  making the wing strut hardware aileron and empennage hardware. Along with rudder pedals.  Completely mounted left wing! Along with left aileron control. Very smooth action!

Strut Hdwr

Wing with struts installed. Lovely wife as model!

Close up of strut and aileron fittings

Upper strut fittings. And one at LG