SparrowHawk Build Pictures, Part II

[r.coplen]

I thought I would start a new thread to make it a little easier to get to the new pictures. I am now working on several major areas at one time and will post pictures as they take shape.

1. This week I have been playing with avionics positioning and I have been getting help with the schematic from Dr. G. When I have completed both, I will post for input before I finalize my plan and assemble. The wiring is a real big deal and I am going to take the time to do it right. (An get all the help I can) Another part of the wiring is the engine, lights, battery ectra. I am beginning to start on the overhead console where the fuses and switches are mounted.

2. As I said before I have taken the engine totally apart to prepare it to be painted black with gold highlights (fuel lines and such). Everything was like new inside but that is the only way I knew to make sure the paint will never come off. Also I really wanted to learn everything I could about these engines sense they are part of the kit I am selling. I have ground,sanded, acid dipped, ect. As they do at AAI, I will have an A&P mechanic, Dr. G, helping me (or is it I will helping him) assemble the Subaru. I will post pictures as I progress.

3. I am beginning to put a number of additional assembles on the SparrowHawk. Fuel lines, lights, aerials, upper mast, rotor head, ectra. I will post pictures.

Below is a photo that is starting to look like a SparrowHawk. I ended up painting all the wheels black. The wheels were silver before and just didn't go with the gold and black theme. I set the seats in for this picture but have not set up the adjustable mounts yet.

[r.coplen]

The fuel lines will connect to the two fuel pumps that will be positioned under the wheel struts. Sorry about the dust on the cabin. with a flash it realy looks bad.

[Whirlydog]

Wow, look at that shop everything has its place and everything in its place. Nice looking gyro too.

Shawn

[r.coplen]

I fabricated a nose wheel doubler and used UV portected 1/8 inch gasket rubber around the nose wheel support. It came out looking great and gave me a little additional cabin support. This is the bottom shot and inside the cabin.

[r.coplen]

Inside view

[r.coplen]

This will be the connection area for the radio antenna. I put a gound plate in the bottom of the SparrowHawk so there would be no radio transmission problems. I had so many problems with my modified RAF (had to totally rewire it.) that I decided to go the extra effort mile. It seems to me that bad grounds cause more problems than most people realise.

[r.coplen]

Here is a picture of the grounding plate before I had it covered with "Zollotone"

[steveb]

Apologies if you've already got this covered, but you'll need to put some protection around those fuel lines where they touch the cabin and the airframe, or you'll have a nick in them in no time.

Great looking machine.

[r.coplen]

Steve,

Good question. I will support the fuel lines with clamps and the lines will be insulated from the cabin. I will post a picture next week on how that looks and how I mounted and connected the fuel pumps. I am excited about putting the pumps in this area because it will be a clean looking installation.

[CLS447]

Nice work! Keep up with the pics, please! The picture of the whole ship sitting in the shop almost looks like an artist's conception. Too pretty, to be real.

[Gyrobound]

Randy, great job. I was down in Florida on vacation last week and got a chance to meet Terry Eiland and got my initial orientation flight in his Modified RAF. Yes I am hooked and want to get my own Sparrow Hawk now as soon as possible. Keep the pictures coming Randy.

Scott

[r.coplen]

Scott,

Terry is one of the best gyroplane people (person?) I know. It won't be too long before he starts flying his SparrowHawk. If you buy your SparrowHawk from Terry I don't see how you can't go wrong. He and his son have both modified RAF's with the AAI centerline thrust mod kits and now Terry has built the complete SparrowHawk kit. I have flown with him and watched him fly with a number of folks and he is a great pilot and gyro CFI and just a nice guy to be around.

Terry Eiland, he da man.

[Vance]

Hi Randy, Once again your photos take my breath away. You are an inspiration! Thank You, Vance

[r.coplen]

Just got back in town with Ruby. Ruby will start flight training on Monday or Tuesday after after a condition review. Pulled some pictures out of the camera and finally got time to post.

Placemnt of seat supports.

[r.coplen]

Finding seat center as a place to begin in placing seat.