Vision - #233
|
|
| Yellow Bird - Vision #1 | Dave Cress's Vision #152 |
|---|
This is not the official Vision site.
This site describes my attempt to document my experience of building a Vision
aircraft, plans #233. The primary goal of this web site is to function as my
builders log to be presented to the FAA to get the airworthiness certificate.
The other is to hopefully help those who follow behind me. I have learned a
great deal from other builder's web sites, not only for the Vision but other
composite aircraft (see my links section).
Contents
Introduction
Current Status
Project Direction
Links
Builders Log
Tips & Tricks
Introduction
It has been my dream for some time to build my own airplane. How long
you ask? A while back I was cleaning through some piles of stuff in
my basement and I ran across a magazine "Air Progress Homebuilt Aircraft"
dated Fall/Winter 1966-67. I was in high school when I aquired that
magazine so this dream has been burning for a while. Now it's time to
make it a reality.
I'm currently building a Vision aircraft designed by
American Affordable Aircraft.
This is a plans built composite foam and fiberglass (can you say plastic) airplane.
I ordered the plans on Jan 1, 2003, (decided to start the new year right)
they arrived on Jan 10. Just the first step in a long process of building an airplane.
Current Status
As of 5-31-2005, I have just recently resumed working on my project. Last
year my oldest son got married. As a result, there were a lot of honey-do's
to fix up the house before all of the out of town company arrived, plus we
had the rehearsal dinner there. After that was over my wife and I decided
that it would be a good time sell the house, we were going to down size in
a couple of years anyway and didn't want to go through the fixup mess again.
So, new house, different work area, in the garage now, the garage was full
after moving with all of the stuff that we didn't know were to put it. Well,
I have now cleared out a space for the airplane and can get back to work
making airplane pieces parts (see my Builders Log
Setting up shop - take 2 for all the gorry details). Currently working on the
horizontal stabalizer, spar is assembled getting ready to add ribs.
Project Direction
| Airplane project |
| Airframe |
Vision by American Affordable
Aircraft, this is a composite foam and fiberglass constructed aircraft.
I'm sorta leaning toward building a 4 place version as explained on the
variations page of the vision web site. To get started I just need to build
two seats instead of just one.
|
| Engine |
Mazda 13B rotary automotive engine converted to aircraft use. I am
planning on using an EC-2 EFI/ignition controler and a RD-1 redrive
from Real World Solutions.
After reading Greg
Richter's web site about his turbo charge Mazda 13B powered Cozy Mk
III, I'm thinking a turbo is in the realm of posibilities. More
rotary links below |
| Panel |
I am leanning toward an all electric panel (no vacumn pump required), see
Bob Nuckolls' article
An
All Electric Airplane on a Budget. To start with it will be VFR only
as I'm not currently IFR rated. Avionics will include a comm
radio, transponder and encoding altimeter as the airport that I fly
from is inside a class Bravo 30 mile ring. Navigation
will be GPS moving map on a Palm handheld PDA, see Jim Weir's article
"
Champagne GPS On A Beer Bankroll", this combo is probable the best bang
for the buck for a moving map that I have seen.
|
| Extras |
Dream on - maybe if I hit the lotto jackpot or some such.
Blue Mountain EFIS display,
this would be nice to have just like the big boys. Maybe, just maybe, a
Dynon EFIS-D10 will fit in my budget.
|
Please note: all the above subject to change without notice! :-)
Links
A few Vision sites
American Affordable Aircraft the
official Vision web site.
Dave Cress's Vision
NOTE - Dave's site seems to be offline
Vision #199 Scott VanderVeen's 4 place vision
Vision builders list by Jim Root
Some notable builder's sites
John Slade's Cozy site An excellant builders
web site documenting the building of a Cozy MK IV airplane with a Mazda 13B rotary
engine.
Cozy Girrrl another Cozy being built by two
ladies, oh by the way, they're also using a Mazda 13B rotary engine.
Rotary Links
!! FlyRotary !! They have a
mailing list related to installing a Mazda rotary in aircraft. Also, link to
the mailing list archive, I learned more in one week reading the archive than
in six months surfing the web.
There are a number of links to flying aircraft with rotary power and a number
of links to rotary related web sites.
Rotary Engine Illistrated - How a
rotary works.
The History Of The Rx-7 a bit
of history of the car and the various forms of the rotary engine.
Real World Solutions Supplier of
pieces parts for converting a rotary to aircraft use.
CozyGirrrl Rotary Engine FAQ some great
stuff on rotary vs. piston engines.
A few aviation related links
Ron Wanttaja's Sea and Sky aviation
page lots of experimental aircraft links
Experimental Aircraft Association
EAA Chapter 326 my EAA chapter.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
AV Web The Internet's Aviation Magazine
and News Service
And don't forget the USENET news group
rec.aviation.homebuilt a lot of good info can be had from this forum,
altho at times you have to wade through a lot of chaff.
FAA Links
FAA Home page
The Code of Federal Regulations other wise known as the FARs
Airman's Information Manual
FAA Graphical TFR info
Amateur Built and Experimental Aircraft Information Forms and
advisory circulars pertaining to amateur build aircraft.
This page last modified Nov 5, 2005