It is tempting to feel that not much progress is being made and so to remind myself and the gentle reader, last year's progress is reviewed to dispel any doubt that I have visited the shop this year. Once or twice...
January: The interior components are test fit and the wiring is wrapping up.
By February I was on to fitting the rear window.
In March I was cutting the slots for the canopy hinges in the top forward skin. This is the last skin to be riveted on and it marks a major milestone -- fuselage structure complete. Later that month I decided to add electrically activated cowl flaps. The cowl flaps allow more cooling air to be cycled through the engine compartment. This is important to while climbing to keep engine temperatures down. At the same time, closing the flaps allows for a modest speed increase in cruise because the cooling drag is reduced.
Around April I thinking seriously about hanging the engine. The first step was to transition to the engine stand where I could more easily add the accessory components
In May we were working on the canopy. We added a targa strip over the top and two side lips to help center the canopy and stiffen the structure.
And by June we were painting.
The painting continued right through the summer and fall. Somewhere along the line I applied the N number.
...And hung the engine.
By December I was connecting control cables to the throttle quadrant.
An oil cooler (right) was added and the engine baffling (left) was begun.
By the end of December the cowling was being prepared for paint.
Trina slept though most of it.
And on the last day of this year's work, I mopped the shop floor. This was the first time the plane has been rolled outside.
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