Mark Wainwright visited me today. He's building a Falco in Watsonville, CA. with the help of a builder assist shop called Aircrafters. I wasn't sure he'd get much out of the visit, considering he's already pretty much done with his empennage, but he said he wanted to admire my tool collection, and so he did. Mark declared my stabilizer straight, and that was nice to hear.
We tried getting a scarfing jig started, wiring up the motor I bought for it, and playing with the lathe a bit, but that came to a stop pretty quickly when I realized I had no 5/8" drill bit to make the collar to link the motor to the sanding drum. What we lost in productivity we made up in discussion, poring over the plans and looking at photos of Falco details on his laptop.
It's great to have someone around who is journeying through the same part of the wilderness as yourself. Ryan Vaughn and Mark are also going to Oshkosh this week, so the California newbies will be well represented.
Tonight I finished rebuilding a rudder rib and glued it in place. I ripped some strips for the new tip bows, as well as the ten foot long stringers that make up the new elevator spar.
Yesterday I took a Cessna 172 out to Livermore airport and put myself on the waiting list for a hangar. Of all the airports around the bay area, I think that one would be my top choice. On my way out I watched Doug Henson taxi out in his yellow Falco and take off, turning downwind and disappearing. The idea of a finished airplane to me is similar to what I saw: just a speck in the distance.
