First time a wing went 55mph

The right wing has officially gone 55mph on the trailer. The trailer is certainly heavier with the addition of 200lb of plywood, but it rides better and the little Prius is able to get momentum okay.  The thought of a 3 hour drive is terrifying.

The wing was held in place using a single ratchet strap and a Velcro strap.  I really, really wish the aileron folded down more and that both control surfaces folded all the way flat against the upper surface of the wing.  The drawings show this, but my tweaks to the design broke that feature.  If you're reading this considering a Goat build, do yourself the favor and make sure the surfaces fold down cleanly.

 

 

I think the lower wing will be easy with some foam noodles and strapping all the way around beneath the trailer frame.  The wing sits much nicer flat without the struts mounted.  The struts should be easy to strap to the trailer's upper trusses, and the tail and elevator sections will need to strap with them.  Hm.  The nose should fit inside the back of the Prius.

 

The plywood will be removed to get a good coat of urethane top-coat.  That'll be a good opportunity to do all the finish welding on the frame (fourth tank of Argon).

 

1000ft of 1/4in yellow polyethylene rope is in the mail for a tow line.  It'll be a little work to set up the ends and sort out the quick-releases and weak-link.  I might tie several streamers to the line instead of finding or buying a tow parachute this early.

 

Trailer must-do's are now:

• take another drive around the neighborhood
  
• figure out how Goat wings sit in the trailer
• figure out how all of Goat parts transport together
  
• take all of Goat for its first trip around the neighborhood 
• finish weld the upper rail to the vertical supports 
• finish weld the frame joints
• covering repairs
  

Non-critical / Optional?

• UV paint on the ply decking
• index the axles to 12deg at 1G (if needed)
• create a rear door that can be quick-pinned in place

For the first-flight:

• backyard final assembly and very thorough pre-flight check, including weight & balance
• re-weld the tow hitch release (I'm now doubtful it had good penetration) 
  
• buy tow rope, weak-links, and end rings
  
• get radios (1x airborne, 1x car)
  
• travel
• fly!

After the first-flight:

• add leather patch to wing tips where will rub the ground
• install leather patch guides for elevator control lines
• paint trim color
• install wing root kiss seal
• build a wing tip dolly
• build a wing wheel
• jury strut fairings
  
• main strut fairings (after flying to figure out the right angles)
• emergency parachute
  
• real variometer (LXNav with a TEK probe is my intention, if it is sensitive at low speed...)
• dogue chute