The main entry door is temporarily installed. This was done in Hamburg by LHT. The wings are almost done. The wings are being readied for a pressure check.
An interesting note regarding the wings, during manufacture, the wings are assembled "dry." They do not use any faying surface sealants (imagine buttering your toast, flipping it over and placing it face down on the plate, the butter would be the faying surface sealant). After assembly, all the edges are sealed. This simple fact made the dis-assembly of the wings relatively easy.
The wing leading edges will have all new hinge extrusions that cost an astronomical amount. Goodrich custom made the de-icing boots. The boots are applied bare, in other words, the skin is not primed.
The airplane will more than likely need an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) to allow the use of 100LL AvGas. The Wright R-3350 988 TC18-EA-2 were designed to use 115/145 AvGas. It is still made in small batches for special events such as air races. The -988 TC18-EA-2s are oddball engines, that is why they are so scarce. The engines have all been overhauled in Idaho. The props have been overhauled.
Engines 1 and 4 each drive a turbo compressor that provides pressurization. The heat is provided by a Janitrol heater that uses avgas.
I thought they were just used in small general aviation aircraft...
The cowlings are 50% complete, then they are going to be polished to a mirror shine.
More pictures next week, headed back up to do some work.
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
