Losing the training wheel.

[fastj22]

Wikipedia says Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation.

Since Airventure 2013, I've been collecting all the necessary stuff to properly equip my Waiex. New mount, TOB legs, tailwheel hardware, big Vans wheel.

I built her as a tri gear because that was what I was most comfortable with. After 63.8 hours on her, I pushed her into the back of the chrysalis yesterday after a final 2013 flight. I hope the pupa emerges soon as a beautiful butterfly.

I had been delaying the transformation as its much more fun to fly than twist wrenches. The kicker was yesterday after landing. The plane had developed a pull to the left during taxi. I checked my bearings, brakes, wheel alignment, nothing unusual. Until yesterday. After my flight, I jumped out of the plane and headed to the bathroom, leaving her to enjoy the sun. Walking back, I noticed the nose wheel had a slight angle to it. Leaning over as it were. The Jabiru mount puts the nose gear off center so I just thought it was an optical illusion. I pulled the nose pant off and low and behold, I have a bent fork. Not on the strut but on the tangs. Seems that not so great landing I did last month did some damage. I flared too high and plopped on the runway.

Instead of developing a plan to repair it, I pulled the trigger. My annual inspection is coming up this spring so I figure to kill two birds with one stone.

Things to do…..

Finish my tailwheel endorsement. I have two paths locally to get this done.
Pull the engine, engine mount, all sensor wiring.
Move any firewall mounted stuff that doesn't clear the new mount.
Install the new mount/gear legs/tailweel.
Perform any SBs on the Jabiru (alternator bolts)
Reinstall the engine, wiring.
Adjust the cowl, I'm sure it won't fit right (HATE the cowl).
re-Install hydraulic brakes, re-run lines.
Build new leg fairings.
Install pants.
Do the annual inspection.
Do another W/B.
Call the FSDO to report the change.
Do my 5 hours of Phase 1 again.

What do you think? Two weekends? :lol:

[Bryan Cotton]

I would plan on 3 weekends just to be safe. Congratulations and good luck!

[daleandee]

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[Bryan Cotton]

My personal opinion is beware of anybody with too much swagger, whether they fly a 152, Pitts, space shuttle, or whatever. I think is is also important to not get so confident that you get complacent, no matter how good you are or how much experience you have. As a new tailwheel pilot you are safe from complacency for a while. Tailwheel is good though, it will open some doors for you.

[fastj22]

I got into this hobby because of all the challenges. I'm actually looking forward to this. Its a big change, but I'm eager to do it.
My RV friends (all A types) think I'm nuts. Why do you want to ground loop? I think they are just jealous. Changing an RV from training gear to standard is not something many would want to take on.

I'll update. I need to take a picture of the nose wheel bend if only as a warning for other nose draggers not to bounce your plane!

[MichaelFarley56]

I think it's a great project! Hopefully it won't be too big of a challenge in the end. Please keep us up to date on how the modification goes.

Best of luck! You'll love your new airplane once it's finished!

[daleandee]

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[fastj22]

I need to get me some of those shirts.

[daleandee]

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[fastj22]

Let the transformation begin.
It took me only about 2 hours to drain the oil and fuel, detach all wiring and remove the engine.
The plane is literally a tail dragger now.