06
The Canadian HM-8 Replica
Project--Page 6
by
- 2004 April 10
The last two weeks have been apparently idle, but only apparently, as several important parts had to be fixed and adjusted. (hardware and controls). A tough job for Paul Fournier.
It is for the four of us a real pleasure to see how smoothly the controls are working.
For the landing gear, brakes and axles had to be machined and fixed.
The wing box spar has been closed and sanded.
The plywood D-cell panels had to be scarf-sanded and glued.
André Létourneau just gave me a call:
He placed the fuselage on its wheels and it seems that the look is terrific.
He also started slipping the ribs on the box spar. The look of the huge wing skeleton (33 feet) on the long table is impressive.
Paul Fournier and Claude Martin prepare the two skids at the top of the front fuselage which will support the engine mount.
- 2004 April 21
Paul Fournier arrives triumphantly with the completed engine stand which looks like a science-fiction spider. André Létourneau and him adjust the engine stand on the fuselage and the Praga engine on the fuselage. They also check the last details before completing the wing gluing and the installation of the wheels axle on the fuselage to prevent rotation when braking.
Together with Claude Martin, I prepare the empennage for fabric covering. Everything must be smooth and level.
I could just cover the vertical empennage, as I had to prepare the surface prior to covering for both empennages. Next Wednesday, I will cover the horizontal empennage.
I was anxious when I started because of the special shape of the leading edge, but the final result is perfect.
Time is passing fast and we can just cover the vertical rudder, but doing the horizontal empennage should be a child's play next week, as everything is prepared.
I was scared to miss the covering of the festoons of the trailing edge, but everything was easier than I feared. The Stits (Polyfiber) process is really great!
André Létourneau gets in touch with a local TV station and the journalist shows a real interest in our project. He will come in one week to make a report on the "avionnette" and our group of builders.
- 2004 April 23
I receive a call from André Létourneau. He made the 2 ailerons. After curing, they will just have to be sanded and the fixtures attached. One more important step done.
- 2004 April 26
A call from Paul Fournier and another one from André Létourneau.
They both worked all day on the project:
They completed the wheels adjustments. They placed the Praga engine on the engine stand which was given a final off white paint coat last Friday and they fixed the engine stand on the fuselage.
They made the last gluing on the wing before the D-Cell, especially the straight parts and the curved parts of leading edge and trailing edge.
When the TV comes next Wednesday, there should be plenty of stuff to show them!
- 2004 April 28
Today, like last week, I arrive at Beloeil very early, as the empennage must be covered for the TV interview.
Today, Claude Martin has an appointment downtown and will arrive late. Fortunately, René Mercier, a long time friend who rebuilt a Pelican U-L about 15 years ago, is with me and we work together on the horizontal empennage covering.
We finish just in time for the lunch break.
After lunch, we are pleased to see Gerry de Grobois and Pierre Gingue coming from Hawkesbury with Gerry's Cessna 172.
Gerry is in charge of the engine of our project and Pierre is making the prop.
They check with Paul Fournier how the engine fits on the stand. Everything seems to be perfect and they take the last measures for the exhaust (which will have to be custom made), the carb intake and the width of the propeller blades.
Everyone is so busy that we do not see immediately the TV people coming.
They want to show how retired or semi retired people are spending their time in Québec and building a light plane seems to be something unusual for them. They take all kind of shots with their video camera and we do our best to answer their questions.
They can see the long (33') wing on its long table. It is nearly completed , the ailerons fit perfectly and the long line of ribs is very impressive. Next step will be the plywood leading edge D-cell. André Letourneau worked very hard last week!
