#homebuilt — Public Fediverse posts

This video shows the flapperons moving as camber-changing flaps. The two control surfaces move in unison. My flap control system has five settings. The central setting is flaps zero or flaps neutral. Two settings increase the camber more, which is suitable for low speed flight. Two settings decrease camber... this is when the two flapperons move upwards.... and this is suitable for higher speed flight.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Technology #Wing #Aileron #Flap #Flaperon

This video shows the flapperons moving as camber-changing flaps. The two control surfaces move in unison. My flap control system has five settings. The central setting is flaps zero or flaps neutral. Two settings increase the camber more, which is suitable for low speed flight. Two settings decrease camber... this is when the two flapperons move upwards.... and this is suitable for higher speed flight.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Technology #Wing #Aileron #Flap #Flaperon

Adjusting the flaperons.

This video shows them operating as ailerons. I move the control stick side to side.

Note that at max deflection, the control surface moves above neutral position more than it moves below neutral position. This is the principle of differential ailerons. It helps reduce adverse yaw.

The first comment to this toot will be a video showing the motion of the flaperons as camber changing flaps.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Technology #Wing #Aileron #Flap #Flaperon

Adjusting the flaperons.

This video shows them operating as ailerons. I move the control stick side to side.

Note that at max deflection, the control surface moves above neutral position more than it moves below neutral position. This is the principle of differential ailerons. It helps reduce adverse yaw.

The first comment to this toot will be a video showing the motion of the flaperons as camber changing flaps.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Technology #Wing #Aileron #Flap #Flaperon

Progress on the carbon fiber glider...with denim fabric!

The control stick needs a boot to keep odd bits from falling down into the flight control linkages and making for unpleasant surprises while flying.

I'm using Dual Lock to hold the boot in place around its base. Dual Lock has a better life span than fabric hook and loop Velcro.
https://www.strouse.com/blog/tips-for-using-dual-lock-tape

First photo is a closeup that shows the small mushroom head fasteners. It has adhesive backing that works fine on rigid surfaces, but I gave it some help by stitching it onto the Denim fabric with a simple sewing machine, heavy needle, and thick thread. (Second photo.)

Third photo shows strips of Dual Lock around the hole in the floor pan.

Final photo shows that it fits well enough, stays in place, and doesn't interfere with the stick's full range of motion 'around the box'.

I did not use a zipper along the length of the boot. I merely made the top hole slightly larger than the widest part of the control stick.

The denim is a leg from a pair of jeans that I cut off. I was shopping a few months ago and for some reason trousers were less expensive than a pair of shorts...so I cut off the legs when I got home and proudly wear jorts.

I'll probably clean up the denim's edges, but for now I'm happy that it fits.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Sewing #Denim #Fabric #Boot #Jorts

Progress on the carbon fiber glider...with denim fabric!

The control stick needs a boot to keep odd bits from falling down into the flight control linkages and making for unpleasant surprises while flying.

I'm using Dual Lock to hold the boot in place around its base. Dual Lock has a better life span than fabric hook and loop Velcro.
https://www.strouse.com/blog/tips-for-using-dual-lock-tape

First photo is a closeup that shows the small mushroom head fasteners. It has adhesive backing that works fine on rigid surfaces, but I gave it some help by stitching it onto the Denim fabric with a simple sewing machine, heavy needle, and thick thread. (Second photo.)

Third photo shows strips of Dual Lock around the hole in the floor pan.

Final photo shows that it fits well enough, stays in place, and doesn't interfere with the stick's full range of motion 'around the box'.

I did not use a zipper along the length of the boot. I merely made the top hole slightly larger than the widest part of the control stick.

The denim is a leg from a pair of jeans that I cut off. I was shopping a few months ago and for some reason trousers were less expensive than a pair of shorts...so I cut off the legs when I got home and proudly wear jorts.

I'll probably clean up the denim's edges, but for now I'm happy that it fits.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Sewing #Denim #Fabric #Boot #Jorts

Progress on the carbon fiber glider...with denim fabric!

The control stick needs a boot to keep odd bits from falling down into the flight control linkages and making for unpleasant surprises while flying.

I'm using Dual Lock to hold the boot in place around its base. Dual Lock has a better life span than fabric hook and loop Velcro.
https://www.strouse.com/blog/tips-for-using-dual-lock-tape

First photo is a closeup that shows the small mushroom head fasteners. It has adhesive backing that works fine on rigid surfaces, but I gave it some help by stitching it onto the Denim fabric with a simple sewing machine, heavy needle, and thick thread. (Second photo.)

Third photo shows strips of Dual Lock around the hole in the floor pan.

Final photo shows that it fits well enough, stays in place, and doesn't interfere with the stick's full range of motion 'around the box'.

I did not use a zipper along the length of the boot. I merely made the top hole slightly larger than the widest part of the control stick.

The denim is a leg from a pair of jeans that I cut off. I was shopping a few months ago and for some reason trousers were less expensive than a pair of shorts...so I cut off the legs when I got home and proudly wear jorts.

I'll probably clean up the denim's edges, but for now I'm happy that it fits.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Sewing #Denim #Fabric #Boot #Jorts

Progress on the carbon fiber glider...with denim fabric!

The control stick needs a boot to keep odd bits from falling down into the flight control linkages and making for unpleasant surprises while flying.

I'm using Dual Lock to hold the boot in place around its base. Dual Lock has a better life span than fabric hook and loop Velcro.
https://www.strouse.com/blog/tips-for-using-dual-lock-tape

First photo is a closeup that shows the small mushroom head fasteners. It has adhesive backing that works fine on rigid surfaces, but I gave it some help by stitching it onto the Denim fabric with a simple sewing machine, heavy needle, and thick thread. (Second photo.)

Third photo shows strips of Dual Lock around the hole in the floor pan.

Final photo shows that it fits well enough, stays in place, and doesn't interfere with the stick's full range of motion 'around the box'.

I did not use a zipper along the length of the boot. I merely made the top hole slightly larger than the widest part of the control stick.

The denim is a leg from a pair of jeans that I cut off. I was shopping a few months ago and for some reason trousers were less expensive than a pair of shorts...so I cut off the legs when I got home and proudly wear jorts.

I'll probably clean up the denim's edges, but for now I'm happy that it fits.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Sewing #Denim #Fabric #Boot #Jorts

Installing the flaperon on the glider's wing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaperon

It's a full-span flaperon, in two halves. Each half is almost 12 feet long.

Each flaperon half has 8 hinges made of a pintle/gudgeon pair. (1st photo)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pintle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudgeon

When installing the outer flaperon half, I also have to engage two sets of pin/sockets that ensure the two halves move as one unit. (2nd photo) (Each flaperon half is driven by its own flight control linkage, not shown here.)

One of the 8 hinges on each flaperon half also serves as a retainer that handles side loads. (3rd and 4th photos.)

The flaperon halves are intentionally not very stiff longitudinally so that they flex with the wing, but they are much stiffer radially to resist deformation because they are driven at only one point by the flight control linkage. This feature is fairly easy to achieve in composite fabrication because you can orient the fabric fibers in certain directions. In this case we used Kevlar, not carbon or fiberglass.)

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Flaperon #Kevlar

Installing the flaperon on the glider's wing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaperon

It's a full-span flaperon, in two halves. Each half is almost 12 feet long.

Each flaperon half has 8 hinges made of a pintle/gudgeon pair. (1st photo)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pintle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudgeon

When installing the outer flaperon half, I also have to engage two sets of pin/sockets that ensure the two halves move as one unit. (2nd photo) (Each flaperon half is driven by its own flight control linkage, not shown here.)

One of the 8 hinges on each flaperon half also serves as a retainer that handles side loads. (3rd and 4th photos.)

The flaperon halves are intentionally not very stiff longitudinally so that they flex with the wing, but they are much stiffer radially to resist deformation because they are driven at only one point by the flight control linkage. This feature is fairly easy to achieve in composite fabrication because you can orient the fabric fibers in certain directions. In this case we used Kevlar, not carbon or fiberglass.)

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Flaperon #Kevlar

I am almost finished with wet sanding the last side of the last glider wing.

The orbital sander has done all it can do on the mostly flat top and bottom of the wing, but the leading edge is strongly curved.

I'll sand that narrow strip by hand...tomorrow when I'm not tired.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing #Wing

I am almost finished with wet sanding the last side of the last glider wing.

The orbital sander has done all it can do on the mostly flat top and bottom of the wing, but the leading edge is strongly curved.

I'll sand that narrow strip by hand...tomorrow when I'm not tired.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing #Wing

I must be making good progress wet sanding the glider's wing.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing #Mess

I must be making good progress wet sanding the glider's wing.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing #Mess

The final (2nd) glider wing is getting sanded to remove orange peel from the polyurethane topcoat.

After sanding is complete, I'll buff it with rubbing compound to give it a semi-mirror finish.

Tomorrow I hope to finish sanding this top side. (The bottom remains unsanded.)

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing

The final (2nd) glider wing is getting sanded to remove orange peel from the polyurethane topcoat.

After sanding is complete, I'll buff it with rubbing compound to give it a semi-mirror finish.

Tomorrow I hope to finish sanding this top side. (The bottom remains unsanded.)

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Paint #Sanding #Polishing

I made some fiberglass 'angle iron' that will be used as braces for the top of the glider's instrument panel.

The mold was a piece of square steel tubing, well waxed.

Note that one of the fiberglass pieces is made from shorter scrap fabric, so the middle is a bit thicker because of the need for 1 inch overlap (2.5cm) of the scrap pieces.

Now I need to use a cutoff wheel to trim and clean up the parts.

Some of the paint from the square steel tube is now stuck to the fiberglass parts. Because these are internal parts, I don't care about this cosmetic flaw.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite #Workshop

I made some fiberglass 'angle iron' that will be used as braces for the top of the glider's instrument panel.

The mold was a piece of square steel tubing, well waxed.

Note that one of the fiberglass pieces is made from shorter scrap fabric, so the middle is a bit thicker because of the need for 1 inch overlap (2.5cm) of the scrap pieces.

Now I need to use a cutoff wheel to trim and clean up the parts.

Some of the paint from the square steel tube is now stuck to the fiberglass parts. Because these are internal parts, I don't care about this cosmetic flaw.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite #Workshop

Two black Sharpie lines will show my progress of gentle hand sanding of the glider wing's leading edge. This will be to remove the orange peel texture.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Sanding #Paint #Painting #Sharpie

Two black Sharpie lines will show my progress of gentle hand sanding of the glider wing's leading edge. This will be to remove the orange peel texture.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Sanding #Paint #Painting #Sharpie

The underside of the glider's right wing is ready for sanding to remove orange peel from the final coat of paint.

(Now I know how long of a line a Sharpie can draw before it runs out of ink)

The three oval areas are inspection/access ports to the inner moving parts of the flight control system...flaperons, and spoilers.

The grid of black lines will help me monitor the progress of sanding.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Sanding #Paint #Painting #Sharpie

The underside of the glider's right wing is ready for sanding to remove orange peel from the final coat of paint.

(Now I know how long of a line a Sharpie can draw before it runs out of ink)

The three oval areas are inspection/access ports to the inner moving parts of the flight control system...flaperons, and spoilers.

The grid of black lines will help me monitor the progress of sanding.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Wing #Sanding #Paint #Painting #Sharpie

Delivery day for the oxygen cylinders!

I got help loading them in the truck when I picked them up at the delivery point in Alamogordo.

Back home, I'm alone and the unloading was slower and deliberate. Fortunately, I only had to lower the cylinders off the bed. Raising them would have required a ramp or other equipment.

I got them into the garage before the next monsoon rainstorm.

I need to make a wall rack to hold them upright, safely, securely. I think I need to get a 20-foot stick of 1-inch square steel tubing from the world famous Basin Pipe and Metal.

Can I make an air liquefaction plant?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction_of_gases

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Steel #Oxygen #Hypoxia #HighAltitude

Delivery day for the oxygen cylinders!

I got help loading them in the truck when I picked them up at the delivery point in Alamogordo.

Back home, I'm alone and the unloading was slower and deliberate. Fortunately, I only had to lower the cylinders off the bed. Raising them would have required a ramp or other equipment.

I got them into the garage before the next monsoon rainstorm.

I need to make a wall rack to hold them upright, safely, securely. I think I need to get a 20-foot stick of 1-inch square steel tubing from the world famous Basin Pipe and Metal.

Can I make an air liquefaction plant?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction_of_gases

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Steel #Oxygen #Hypoxia #HighAltitude

Delivery day for the oxygen cylinders!

I got help loading them in the truck when I picked them up at the delivery point in Alamogordo.

Back home, I'm alone and the unloading was slower and deliberate. Fortunately, I only had to lower the cylinders off the bed. Raising them would have required a ramp or other equipment.

I got them into the garage before the next monsoon rainstorm.

I need to make a wall rack to hold them upright, safely, securely. I think I need to get a 20-foot stick of 1-inch square steel tubing from the world famous Basin Pipe and Metal.

Can I make an air liquefaction plant?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction_of_gases

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Steel #Oxygen #Hypoxia #HighAltitude

Delivery day for the oxygen cylinders!

I got help loading them in the truck when I picked them up at the delivery point in Alamogordo.

Back home, I'm alone and the unloading was slower and deliberate. Fortunately, I only had to lower the cylinders off the bed. Raising them would have required a ramp or other equipment.

I got them into the garage before the next monsoon rainstorm.

I need to make a wall rack to hold them upright, safely, securely. I think I need to get a 20-foot stick of 1-inch square steel tubing from the world famous Basin Pipe and Metal.

Can I make an air liquefaction plant?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction_of_gases

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Steel #Oxygen #Hypoxia #HighAltitude

Delivery day for the oxygen cylinders!

I got help loading them in the truck when I picked them up at the delivery point in Alamogordo.

Back home, I'm alone and the unloading was slower and deliberate. Fortunately, I only had to lower the cylinders off the bed. Raising them would have required a ramp or other equipment.

I got them into the garage before the next monsoon rainstorm.

I need to make a wall rack to hold them upright, safely, securely. I think I need to get a 20-foot stick of 1-inch square steel tubing from the world famous Basin Pipe and Metal.

Can I make an air liquefaction plant?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefaction_of_gases

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Steel #Oxygen #Hypoxia #HighAltitude

The glider turtle deck and cockpit get a few more items.

The oxygen tank is now mounted under the turtle deck. A retaining cable runs back to the rear steel carrythrough tube, and will only be used once...in the event of a crash. (Wooden 2x4's are mockups for the wing spars to ensure I am installing items with acceptable clearance.)

A two-litre water bladder hangs behind the seat pan, and the drinking tube is at a convenient location.

I still have to install another fiberglass antenna bracket under the aft end of the turtle deck.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Composite #Safety #Hydration #Water

The glider turtle deck and cockpit get a few more items.

The oxygen tank is now mounted under the turtle deck. A retaining cable runs back to the rear steel carrythrough tube, and will only be used once...in the event of a crash. (Wooden 2x4's are mockups for the wing spars to ensure I am installing items with acceptable clearance.)

A two-litre water bladder hangs behind the seat pan, and the drinking tube is at a convenient location.

I still have to install another fiberglass antenna bracket under the aft end of the turtle deck.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Composite #Safety #Hydration #Water

Glider progress on closing out open spaces in the fuselage.

First photo shows the new fiberglass closeout panels I made this weekend. The new panels have bits of blue tape on them.

Second photo shows a fiberglass GPS antenna bracket near the top of the turtle deck.

What you don't see in the second photo are the wing spars, which will run across this space.

I am considering also making fiberglass shields to cover the autoconnect funnels, which are gray and located aft of the wing spar cutouts.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Composite

Glider progress on closing out open spaces in the fuselage.

First photo shows the new fiberglass closeout panels I made this weekend. The new panels have bits of blue tape on them.

Second photo shows a fiberglass GPS antenna bracket near the top of the turtle deck.

What you don't see in the second photo are the wing spars, which will run across this space.

I am considering also making fiberglass shields to cover the autoconnect funnels, which are gray and located aft of the wing spar cutouts.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Composite

Making glider composite parts requires time, and timing because epoxy must first cure.

Before I went to bed last night, I layed up fiberglass on simple molds to make various closeout panels.

The epoxy cured while I slept, at least enough to de-mold.

Now the parts are sitting on the glider trailer and getting warmed by the sun. In a couple hours they will be fully cured.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite

Making glider composite parts requires time, and timing because epoxy must first cure.

Before I went to bed last night, I layed up fiberglass on simple molds to make various closeout panels.

The epoxy cured while I slept, at least enough to de-mold.

Now the parts are sitting on the glider trailer and getting warmed by the sun. In a couple hours they will be fully cured.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #EAA #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite

A home-made spring clip for small parts in the glider cockpit.

This is just several plies of fiberglass wrapped around a piece of foam that was sanded to a taper and the desired dimensions. Fiberglass can serve as a spring, but I would not use it this way where cycling fatigue is possible.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #ExperimentalAviation #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite

A home-made spring clip for small parts in the glider cockpit.

This is just several plies of fiberglass wrapped around a piece of foam that was sanded to a taper and the desired dimensions. Fiberglass can serve as a spring, but I would not use it this way where cycling fatigue is possible.

#AvGeek #Aviation #ElectricAircraft #ExperimentalAviation #Homebuilt #Glider #DIY #Fiberglass #Epoxy #Composite