Build Log February 2025

February 27th, 2025

4.75 hours, 165 total.

• Review Zenith drawings.

• Convert 0 - IPL  SD75 HORIZONTAL TAIL (1).xlsx to .ods. Minor layout tweaks, remove footer, export to PDF, and print.

• Add part numbers to Tail Kit photos page.

• Add many video links to docs.

• Rename site title.

• Photograph more larger Tail Kit parts from crate and add images to docs.

• Cleco a few parts together to understand layout.

• New cleco tool with spring stopped springing back after using it a few minutes…

• Deburr edges of thicker parts with file.

February 26th, 2025

4.75 hours, 160.25 total.

• Receive Tail Kit freight.

• Unpack most Tail Kit parts.

• Photograph Tail Kit parts.

• Inventory Tail Kit parts.

• Receive Aircraft Spruce shipment.

• Process photos and upload to https://media.aircraft.moe/photos/.

• Add Tail Kit section to docs.

• Update BoM with Tail Kit and Aicraft Spruce order deliveries.

• Add rsync server to media rsync://media.aircraft.moe/.

February 25th, 2025

8.5 hours, 155.5 total.

• Finish complete Rudder Kit!

• Add many rudder assembly photos.

• Update orders in BoM.

• Watch HomeBuildHelp video.

• Read various forums…

• Contact Estes Freight and Interstate for delivery of Tail Kit shipment. Should be delivered tomorrow! 26' box truck with lift gate. ~200 pounds.

• Setting up https://media.aircraft.moe/photos/ with raw photos.

• Wrote script to remove all black images, based on thresholds depending on the camera.

• Wrote script to create a gallery of the images.

• Write script to create time lapse videos https://media.aircraft.moe/videos/.

• Add Media and Time Lapse pages to this documentation.

February 24th, 2025

1 hour, 147 total.

• Received many HomeBuiltHelp DVDs.

• I signed up for the EAA forums and somehow got banned before I ever posted or send a PM. Not sure why I’m banned, it just reads: “You have been banned for the following reason: No reason was specified. Date the ban will be lifted: Never”. Odd.

• Watch HomeBuildHelp video.

February 23rd, 2025

4 hours, 146 total.

• Review huge list of open source avionics and notes sent to me in PM from al m in homebuiltairplanes forum.

• Add select free software / open source avionics to list in new section.

• Videos, forums…

• Read all of Manifesto, “a revolutionary approach to general aviation maintenance”.

• Read more of Simplified Aircraft Design for Homebuilders.

February 22nd, 2025

5 hours, 142 total.

• Read various forums. Sign up for Van’s Air Force and RivetBangers forums.

• Review endless 3D printer parts (on a LulzBot!) for Van’s at:

  https://www.rivetbangers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=6049

  RVPlasticParts, LLC

  GPS Dock 1, LLC

• Build second work bench.

• Drill and affix plywood top to both work benches.

• Cut work bench mats to size. Affix one with velcro, but it’s better without.

• Organize barn, cleanup, find parts, etc.

• Tail kit should arrive next week.

February 21st, 2025

4.5 hours, 137 total.

• List of avionics features by priority on website.

• HUD BoM additions.

• MGL avionics and Linux review.

• More avionics and engines review.

• Build one of two t-slot extrusion workbenches. 4' x 6' x 3' frame with 4' x 8' plywood work surface on smooth-as-butter casters.

• Add daily hours to build log.

February 20th, 2025

2.25 hours, 132.5 total.

• Watch Dynon, Garmin avionics videos.

• Read about various alternative avionics.

• Receive 2/5 packages for new workbench.

February 19th, 2025

3.5 hours, 130.25 total.

• Review GRT avionics.

• Review EarthX batteries.

• Review Advanced Flight System avionics.

• Add avionics and engine links to site, some re-organization.

• Review MakerPlane, other free software / open source hardware avionics components.

• Add 3D printed parts section with links.

February 18th, 2025

3.5 hours, 126.75 total.

• Received response from Nuvite. tldr; don’t polish when it’s cold, it doesn’t work as well.

• Order MakerPlane components and add to BoM.

• Received Zenith order of riveter heads, instrument panel, additional rivets.

• Discuss project with Braun.

• Print out and cut up Garmin G3X actual size templates for instrument panel.

• Receive new EAA books. Add to bibliography and BoM.

• Read Simplified Aircraft Design for Homebuilders.

• Review Aviation Mechanic Handbook.

February 17th, 2025

5 hours, 123.25 total.

• Review Garmin G3X Installation Manual.

• Review Approach Fast Track products.

• More avionics reading.

• Contact Nuvite about using/storing Nushine below freezing temperatures.

• Look for alternatives to Vertical Power VPX.

• Watch more videos…

• Build MakerPlane pyEFIS and FIX-Gateway.

February 16th, 2025

5.75 hours, 118.25 total.

• Read Kitplanes articles, homebuiltairplanes.com.

• EAA Garmin G3X videos.

• Advanced Flight Systems video.

February 15th, 2025

3.5 hours, 112.5 total.

• Update website with rudder assembly photos.

• Review email from Wheels and Wings about ULPower engine.

• Review documetation from FAA and GAMA for a Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH).

• Review LaTeX public domain POH for an RV at https://github.com/khorton/POH.

• Create private git repo for POH.

• Reorganize website.

• Write docs on HOWTO build docs.

• Add BibTeX bibliography to website.

• Change BoM links.

• Notes on creating PDFs of documentation.

• Split out build log files per month and rename main build log link.

February 14th, 2025

3.5 hours, 109 total.

• Review ULPower Installation Manual.

• Contact Wheels and Wings with ULPower questions.

• Review ULPower electrical diagrams.

• Receive response re: rivets from Zenith. All good!

• Lots of clecos for rudder.

• Riveting rudder.

• Showed Crysten how to cleco.

• Build most of rudder (2 parts remain).

• Draft / template of Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) in LaTeX.

• Create private git repo for AFM.

February 13th, 2025

7.5 hours, 100.5 total.

• Work on selecting Garmin avionics components.

• Order Zenith Instrument Panel (75F16-1) to plan avionics layout.

• Ordered more A4/A5 rivets.

• Ordered Milwaukee riveter heads from Zenith.

• Review Garmin STEP, DXF files in FreeCAD.

• Create Drawio diagram with Garmin avionics images for layout (not public).

• Print out, cut up, and tape up Garmin avionics layout (probably too big…).

• Order various HomeBuiltHelp DVDs.

• Add orders to BoM.

• Read parts of The AeroElectric Connection book.

February 12th, 2025

7 hours, 93 total.

• Received polisher, polishing consumables.

• Added Garmin avionics to BoM.

• Review propellers.

• Various BoM.

• Videos and reading.

February 11th, 2025

4.75 hours, 86 total.

• Ordered Tail Kit from Zenith.

• Added many engines to Bill of Materials.

• Other work on Bill of Materials.

• Received quote from Wheels and Wings for UL520iS engine and parts.

• Reviewed documentation on engines, Zenith parts, etc.

February 10th, 2025

4 hours, 81.25 total.

• First cleco.

• Cleco rudder skeleton.

• First rivet.

• Rivet rudder skeleton.

February 9th, 2025

7.5 hours, 77.25 total.

• Review print documentation.

• Review CAD prints.

• Check delivery versus pick list.

• Deburr rudder kit holes.

February 8th, 2025

5.75 hours, 69.75 total.

• Organize more.

• Received misc parts, tools, A/V, etc.

• Received Zenith starter tools.

• Received Zenith printed manual.

• Received Zenith Rudder starter kit.

• Unboxed everything.

• Photographed unboxing, tools, rudder parts.

• Update BoM, OpenProject, website.

February 1st - 7th, 2025

64 hours total.

February 7th, 2025

February 6th, 2025

February 5th, 2025

February 4th, 2025

February 3rd, 2025

• Select Zenith 750 CH Super Duty.

• Organize barn.

• Order tools.

• Order workbench and components.

• Order aircraft rudder kit.

• Set up computers, A/V, Internet, etc. in barn.

• Set up documentation server and site.

• Set up project management site.

• Watch many videos.

• Review Zenith documentation.