Motorcycles and aeroplanes

Which is best? What's the common link? That sort of thing. Well, unlike most other vehicles, they roll into the turn, unlike boats, which roll out. But the motorcycle does not pitch, except under vary hard acceleration. And of course, does not operate in the 3rd dimension except under direct influence of the terrain. But having said that, and ironically, which having control over altitude, one quickly loses sense of the terrain, unless its very large, as when largely above it, it diminishes its visual impact very quickly, flattening it out. Of course, the view from the air is quickly staggeringly interesting. Motorcycling is immersed in the terrain and retains its visual impact throughout. By proximity. From the air, the visual impact is by distance. The hands operate the throttle in both, and controls the roll. Brakes not so important in the aeroplane, or definitely defined right hand right foot. The feet in the aeroplane control the yaw. Controlled by the handlebar on the bike. Really the bike roll is not easily described as simply handlebar control. Counterturning handlebars on the bike, or weight shift leaning, or both. Aeroplane simple stick right or left for appropriate roll. They are complimentary interests. Ride to the airfield. Fly above. Then ride home again.

Firewall secure

And finally, after making sure it fits, adjusting here and there and so on. It is done. The firewall is now glued onto the longerons. Some of the side diagonals in the first two stations are in place. And I can separate my bottom half fuse from the jig after almost three years in it. I dont think I would have started if I'd known I would be this slow. But at least now I can rotate it and start fitting the bulkheads. After first shaping them out of ply.

And the firewall goes on for fitting prior to gluing

At loooong last...

Ribs glued to Spar

Fourth rib glued to spar last weekend. Two to go for the mod, requiring separate front/back parts of the rib aligned carefully, Remainder are in one piece fitting arund the spar and thus self aligned. Sort of.

Gluing Firewall frame together

Thank you Mr West for your epoxy Part A to mix with Epoxy Part B. Ammonia smelly part B. And gushy Part A. These four bits of stick took me ages to laminate, plane, shave and sand into my best approximation of 2.5 x 0.75" and 2.75 x 0.5" out of my spruce stock. Agonisingly the plans leave you with your own approximation of how it fits onto the fuse. I am screaming for someone to tell me how to do it. Just do it.

Anyway part way there. Be a whole lot more finished when I marry with the front end of the fuse and can unclamp that part of the job after more than a year!

Did this while listening to King Crimson "Red" album. Kicker. Much better to concentrate on gluing than having TV in the background.

Firewall

Nice to be gluing again. Took ages to get bits laminated to the correct dimensions. And find the correct bolt placements for the Jabiru installation. Hope to get it onto the front of the fuse soon, then photograph it.

Back to work

I can't believe I left it so long, but at last I've started aligning the ribs on the spar prior to gluing. You'd think I could have done that ages ago, but no. Got cold feet. Thought the worst might happen. Too busy etc etc. Meanwhile back at the fuselage I'm still stuck on the Jabiru firewall dimensions.