Sonex Build Status and Completion Photos

[daleandee]

Building is a series of small tasks and accomplishments. Some times there are mistakes and setbacks, other times we reach milestones.

Today was a big milestone for me.

Great looking family sitting in a great looking project. If you hurry you can take it to Crossville this year! OK ... that might be a bit of a stretch.

Carry on!

Dale
N319WF

[Sonex1517]

Sonex 1517 update - out of photo space and not much to show right now anyhow.

I am basically done with the fuselage - seats and seat belts installed, instrument panel and glare shield cleco'd in place. I even painted the inside of the upper firewall flat black to reduce reflection (thanks for the advice on that one Mike Farley!!).

I have installed the horizontal stabilizer and temporarily bolted it in place while I argue with the vertical stabilizer. Like many others experience, there are clearance issues with the drive horn and I am working to resolve them. After a check with Kerry in tech support I know what I can and cannot do to resolve it....time to get to work.

My last two sub kits (controls and firewall forward stuff) arrive Monday and the engine kit is here at the end of May. I also purchased a used engine monitor (original JPI scanner) and tested it - seems to work. I am after basic monitoring and this fit the need (and the price at $250 was right!!).

Now to get the CHT probes from Sonex and some EGT probes I found at http://ksavionics.com. They have a great reputation and seems to last a long time based on stuff I have read.

The last of my hardware stuff arrived from Spruce (anyone need phenolic, solid rivets, or piano wire?) so I am sorting that out and finding homes for it.

Our garage is hard-pressed to hold everything and the fuselage now barely fits. Once we put the engine mount on it will be time to place the fuselage at an angle to get it on the gear and finish it up.

I have a long way to go and lots of work, but the end is in sight and the goal is to fly it in a year....


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[Rick524]

Hi Robbie, nice pics! Are you building a tri gear or taildragger?

Rick
Sonex 524

[dcstrng]

I started building my fuselage in May 2013. Even with matched holes, my work schedule kept me from getting as much done as I wanted to. But today I sat in my airplane for the first time and made the required propeller noises....

Super !! I'm envious...

[Sonex1517]

Hi Robbie, nice pics! Are you building a tri gear or taildragger?

Rick
Sonex 524

Thanks Rick!

It is a taildragger...

Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[Sonex1517]

At last....three years after I began working on it....this photo was worth every minute of the effort it took to get here...

My Sonex is on the gear....


Robbie Culver
Sonex 1517
Chicagoland
Tails and Wings complete - finishing fuselage.
N1517S reserved

[Bryan Cotton]

Awesome Robbie! I remember the first time I got the 140 back on its gear, it is an awesome feeling.

[n982sx]

Nice work Robbie, congrats. It is always nice to reach the big milestones.

See you at the Great Lakes Sonex Fly In, June 28th.

[Sonex1462]

Robbie, It looks Great!

[tonyr]

Hi Guys,

Finally after nearly 8 years my project is residing in its hangar!
Assembly, rigging, weighing and inspection next.

Couple of pics.





Cheers
Tony