27 July 2025

Blog navigation and best posts.

My blog has become a very large repository of my experience, thoughts and designs.  This page will help direct folks to its more salient pages rather than always being presented in reverse chronological order.

You can always contact me from this link, or if you're viewing the blog in desktop mode, there is a link on the right side of the page.


Popular Posts

Modifications: Bigger oil cooler for IO-390-EXP119, try #3.

 

Modifications:  Bigger oil cooler, try #1 (failed in flight).

 

Maintenance: Airflow Systems 2007X oil cooler failure in flight.

 

 Modifications:  Aveo ZipTips Premier 2 installed.

 

Modifications:  EXP119 conversion.

  

First Flight Prep:  My POH, W&B, checklist, flight test card and condition inspection checklist.


E's Favorites

Avionics:  GRT/Garmin/Dynon/AFS flight data analysis tool - Cloud-free and public domain!


Avionics:  Adding voice alerts to GRT EFISs.



Avionics:  Electronic ignition backup battery and controller.


Fuselage:  Rudder and Brake Systems.  Longer rudder cable links.


Most Recent Posts

25-Jul-25 - Modifications: Bigger oil cooler for IO-390-EXP119, try #3 (satisfactory performance).

10-Jun-25 - Modifications: Bigger oil cooler for IO-390-EXP119, try #2 (inadequate performance).

6-Jun-25 - Avionics: New indicator lights circuit board.

1-Jun-25 -  Avionics: Oil quantity sensor installed.

20-May-25 - Avionics: B&C SF601 alternator replaces PlanePower AL12-EI60.

14-May-25 -  Maintenance: Airflow Systems 2007X oil cooler failure in flight.

13-May-25 - Avionics: Connected right EFIS to backup battery and installed switch.

28-Dec-24 - Powerplant:  Switched to automotive plugs and harnesses.


27-Oct-24 -  Powerplant:  Switched to dual SureFly electronic ignition.

10-Jun-24 -  Modifications:  Added tail cam for EFIS main screen.

27-Nov-94 - Mounted a tablet for free charts.



Pages Showing Modifications

These are things that generally deviate from or are otherwise not included in the plans. 

Interesting Maintenance Items
Issues of note that have cropped up over the years. 

Pages by Plans Section

Click the headings to expand the lists.

Empennage Kit
Wing Kit
Fuselage Kit
Finishing Kit
FWF Kit
Other Sections

Pages by Subject 

Click each heading to expand the contents. Items in bold are of particular interest. Each subject's list is presented in reverse chronological order.

ADS-B (9)
Antennas (5)
Autopilot (7)
Avionics (72)
Capacitive Fuel Probes (5)
EAA Chapter 1000 Workbenches (4)
First Flight Preparation (7)
Fun Stuff (15)
Interior (11)
Lighting (12)
Low Fuel Level Optical Sensors (4)
Maintenance (24)
Modifications (31)
Moving to Hangar (2)
Operational (8)
Painting (10)
Panel (15)
Pitot-Static (12)
Powerplant (14)
Practice Projects (5)
Priming (24)
Setup (3)
Shop (25)
Technical Counselor Visit (5)
Wiring (12)


Build Information

Work Graph as of 4-Sep-17

Work Graph as of 4-Sep-17
Cumulative hours on the build vs. time.

 

Build Time as of 4-Sep-17

Subcategory
Total Hours
FTE
Shop Prep
29.25
0m, 3d, 5h
Practice25.33
0m, 3d, 5h
Wings611.18
3m, 16d, 3h
Fuel Tanks Redo110.98
0m, 13d, 7h
Empennage306.64
1m, 18d, 3h
Horizontal Stab Redo37.19
0m, 4d, 5h
Rudder Redo
25.03
0m, 3d, 1h
Fuselage440.46
2m, 15d, 0h
Finishing290.20
1m, 16d, 2h
FWF154.20
0m, 19d, 2h
Avionics220.14
1m, 7d, 4h
Total Time
2196.01
13m, 14d, 4h
W/O Major Redos
2047.47
12m, 15d, 7h
Add'l Help from Others
599.69
3m, 14d, 8h
Averages: 495.86 hrs/yr, 41.95 hrs/mo, 1.36 hrs/day (from start). Hours/day worked: 3.51.

 

Cost as of 1-Nov-17

Hover your mouse over most categories for itemization.

Category
Amount
Avionics and Panel
$38,805.90
Antennas
$1,086.33
CPU for Shop
$531.31
Engine and Prop $42,145.00
Fuel Tanks Redo $1,537.51
Fuselage Bulkheads $1,315.77
Interior$2,477.41
Kits from Van's
$41,750.13
Lighting
$3,022.54
Maintenance $775.77
Modifications $2,303.66
Other
$3,391.36
Paint and Primer
$1,203.96
Replacement Parts $2,123.02
Rudder Redo
$493.52
Tools and Shop $12,773.35
Total: $155,737.88

 

Number of Rivets

Direct link to this table.
Section
Rivets
6. Vertical Stabilizer
300
7. Rudder 575
8. Horizontal Stabilizer
944
9. Elevator (Left)
623
9. Elevator (Right)
531
10. Aft Fuselage
1,239
11. Empennage Attach
0
12. Empennage Fairings
234
13. Main Spars
302
14. Main Ribs
274
15. Rear Spars
318
16. Top Skins
1,310
17. Leading Edges
796
18. Fuel Tanks
1,580
19. Systems Routing
0
20. Bottom Skins
1,812
21. Flaps
958
22. Ailerons
662
23. Aileron Actuation
50
24. Wing Tips
214
25. Fwd Mid Fuselage Bulkheads
284
26. Mid Fuselage Lower Structure
1,308
27. Firewall
439
28. Fwd Fuselage Lower Structure
541
29. Fwd-Mid Fuselage Side Structure
1,396
30. Aft Fuselage Attachment
465
31. Fuel System
30
32. Baggage Area
644
33. Rudder & Brake Systems 108
34. Flap Actuation System
0
35. Upper Fwd Fuselage
602
36. Aileron & Elevator Systems
51
37. Roll Over Structure
382
38. Canopy and Window
650
39. Seatbacks 162
40A. Tricycle Landing Gear and Eng Mnt 0
41. Wing Attachment
88
42. Miscellenea
60
43. Engine and Installation
4
44. Spinner and Propeller
34
45. Cowling
166
46A. Tricycle Gear Leg and Wheel Fairings
139
47. Cowl Baffle
168
48. Exhaust System
0
49. Fuel and Oil System
28
50. Control Cables
0
51. FWF Miscellanea
0
52. Antenna Installation

53. Ack ELT
0
54. Flap Position Sensor
0
55. Common Fuselage Harness
0
56. Garmin Autopilot Servos
0
57. Dynon Autopilot Servos
0
58. Autopilot Yaw Servos
8
59. Power Module Install
12
60. Control Stick Harness

OP-38. Electric Aileron Trim

OP-52A. Aero LEDs Sunspot LX
8
OP-55. Wing Tip Nav/Strobe Lighting
0
OP-56. Tail Lighting


Empennage
4,446
Wings
8,276
Fuselage
6,250
Finish
1,265
FWF
234
Optional
20

Total: 20,499

As counted from the plans by me. Prone to errors.