by cklimt » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:12 am
The AirCam is not hard to build. I was fortunate as a first time builder to have found a partner who is a passionate A&P from South Africa. He taught me a lot.
The biggest miscalculation is the space you need to assemble and spray the parts/ aircraft. Had to build a temporary enclosure to house the assembly/painting. You need a lot os space, preferably close to home.
Aluminum riveted structures require learning how to prep aluminum prior to riveting. Drilling, deburring, alodine, clean/rinse, prime and rivet. My partner insisted that each rivet be wet installed ie 2 part epoxy primer in each hole prior to riveting. That is the way Boeing does it. I bet we could get dunked in salt water and there would be no corrosion.
Fabric work we did strictly Stitts PolyFiber. Workshops helped a lot. You need a place to spray. 11 coats of various sealer/silver UV protection and base paint. Then trim colors. Not hard/ very forgiving with an HVLP gun.
The engine installation requires following good instructions in the manual. The need to tie off various hoses to make sure they do not flap and rub was new to me. Lots of waxed line and time consuming tying.
The electrical/ instruments did not have a lot of guidance from the manual. We rolled our own. My partner was invaluable.
The flying is unbelievable. Low and slow. Just watch out for towers and wires. A great way to see the country. With my partner we have put 1200 hrs on her since completion 5 years ago. Been to Sebring, to Minnesota, and to Oshkosh 5 times. Always an attraction. Once in White Plains, the field was full of corporate jets of many million $ each. It was the AirCam that everyone came to inspect.
Minimum maintenance in 1200 hrs.
Claudius