Epoxy varnish

It was fairly warm in the hangar today (low 60’s outside) so I put some epoxy varnish on various wood surfaces the fabric will attach to.  I did this on the fuselage around the cabin doors and windows and also the wood for the aileron coves.  This step is necessary since the glue, PolyBrush, etc. are all MEK based.

I also went flying this afternoon in the Voyager.  The visibility was unlimited!

A nice day to fly other than a little bumpy.
Just east of Stearman Field.

Wood strip for aileron cove

Fuselage doors and windows 

Great flying weather

I got my 7th Stinson Voyager flight in the past 12 days made yesterday.  It is hard not to take advantage of these nice days with light winds and temperatures in the 50's.  I circled around Lake El Dorado.  Our friends in Seattle, Steve and Kim, were visiting the KBVS airport north of Seattle yesterday and saw this beautiful Gullwing Stinson, an SR-9F.  I dropped off our Gullwing seats Friday at Mike's Custom Upholstery in Wichita.  They need about 60 days, so we are anxious to see the final result.  Stay tuned.  

Looking North

Looking south at Lake El Dorado

Gullwing Stinson at KBVS....gorgeous

  

Just add stitches

I went by the fabric store tonight with Debbie and thought to look at their foam rubber sheet while there.  I have been looking around for half inch which is what was used on the Voyager but can't seem to find it.  They had a 6-foot roll of 1 inch, so I decided to give it a try.  I worked on the pilot door panel tonight and both Debbie and I like the look.  Maybe it will offer more sound deadening, too.  Now I just need to find an industrial sewing machine and add some decorative vertical stitching using gold thread.  The entire lower half of the cabin will be in brown leather.  The headliner, which is sandalwood colored wool, will go down the upper half of the walls to meet up with the leather.  

In other news, we needed a new piece of wood for the trailing edge aileron cove for the fabric hold down straps to attach to.  It needed to be cut at an angle with one edge rounded.... the perfect job for my friend Jim who is an amazing wood worker.  We had lunch at the Stearman Cafe where I provided a small sample of what we needed an 8-foot piece to look like.  He had it done by supper time.  Thanks Jim!

The wood Jim shaped is on the left side
of the table.  Also foam and interior door panel.
Vertical lines show where stitching will go.

Foam glued to door panel

I laid out all the hides on the pool table.  Four full
 hides and another remnant used for the door.

Door panel temporarily in place

First flights for 2022

We test flew Wade’s Cessna 172 today post annual.  For some reason the DG would not adjust…so something for Wade to look into.  We flew from Stearman to Augusta (3AU) where Wade now has a hangar.  Debbie drove us back to Stearman.  Then I took the Voyager on its test flight post annual.  It was a little hard to start, but after that everything worked just fine.  I flew to El Dorado (KEQA) for fuel and then circled the lake before heading home.  The weather was great with temperatures in the low 50’s, smooth skies, and light winds.  My first flights of 2022.

Voyager cockpit

Wade and his 172 at Augusta

Annual complete

Wade completed the annual on the Voyager today and I have all the covers, cowlings, and the interior back in place.  We cleaned the engine this afternoon and then ran it and did an oil leak check.  Looked good.  I'll take it on a test flight as soon as the weather cooperates.  The only issue we found this year was a crack in one of the mufflers we had to get welded.   

Wade cleaning the engine

Ready for action

Happy New Year

It was in the low 60’s yesterday, today it is 9 with a wind chill of -10.  Such is the weather of Kansas.  My Stinson Voyager is due for its annual inspection, so I spent a cold, snowy day inside my heated hangar removing various inspection panels, cowlings, and covers.  I also removed the interior.  It took about 4 hours.  Now I need Wade’s expert eyes to come look at everything.  I picked up the oil, oil filter, air filter, and a few other items earlier in the week.

Glad my hangar is attached to the house and heated!

Various items removed to aid inspection 

Interior components 

Stripped down and ready for inspection