Sunday, May 25, 2025

Hooked myself

The Goat drawings show a small hook tool that one person can carry a wing panel.  My better half was traveling and I decided to make the tool.  A more typical sailplane assembly aid is a wing cart.  I once bought a small toy from a yard-sale and tried making a wing cart.  It didn't work at all.  So now the hook tool:

 

The hook tool worked to take a wing panel to the back yard to stage for putting into the trailer.  I didn't get a picture of carrying a wing panel because it was just me.  I also couldn't figure out how to get the panel into the trailer myself, so the lower wing mounting will wait for another day.

 

Trailer to-do's are now:

  • 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
  • UV paint on the ply decking

For the first-flight:

  • covering repairs
  • 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 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
  • 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...)
  • drogue chute

No comments:

Locations of visitors to this page