First Kit Built ELA G8 in USA

Alan_Cheatham

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Nov 14, 2003
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Location
Dallas, Texas
The first kit built ELA G8 in the US nears completion here in Texas, purchased from Aerotrek by Matt Pearson.

http://www.aerotrek.aero/default.htm

As we have come to learn this is the first ever kitted ELA G8 produced (all others have been factory built in Spain) so there have been a few teething problems, mainly due to a lack of proper English documentation and a few missing items, but nothing major (so far).

(note that the pictures suffer from compression artifacts especially in the red colors)

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Hi Alan, looks like a very nice gyro you're building. I just have never heard of an ELA G8. I know the ELA 07, 09 and 10 (as per their website). What's the G8??

Greetings, -- Chris.
 
Hey that's great ! Good to know that Matt is still at it. Why doesn't he post here anymore ?

Hey Matt.....great color choice ! Are all the other parts powder coated ?

I would call that a 2 place partially enclosed machine, wouldn't you ?
 
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It looks nice!!
Please keep posting photos of the build!!
 
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At bit foggy here at the moment but Matt is getting there. Dealing with the panel wiring now.

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Very cool Alan!!! Thank you for sharing!
 
Nice machine. Very similar in construction to AG-1 or MTO Sport.
Is that a fiberglass fuel tank I see there? If so, please be careful and keep an eye on it. I have not seen a single composite fuel tank hold up completely to US fuel over the long haul with fuel from the auto pump after 2007. We eventually changed all our fuel tanks in 2008 to Aluminum. Vinyl ester resin is supposed to be ethanol resistant but even it gives up eventually. At least a Cavalon and a Calidus fuel tank started de-lamination here in Florida and they supposedly used ethanol resistant resin. We caught that problem in 2008 on our airplanes and trikes and changed out every single tank in the US.
 
Very Nice

Very Nice

Alan, it looks like you are doing a nice job on that machine. If you need any training or DPE services here in Texas, please let me know. I would be happy to fly with you. I am based out of Austin.
 
Frame material

Frame material

Alan,

Is the main frame aluminum or steel tubing? And of what size and wall thickness? Thanks
 
You say it is kit built, are kits available? Do they sell sub-kits?
 
Alan,

Is the main frame aluminum or steel tubing? And of what size and wall thickness? Thanks

The frame is TIG welded stainless steel as are many of the European gyros. I would have to measure for the size and gauge thickness but the ELA is one of the lightest of the Euro gyros, it doesn't seem to weigh much of anything.

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You say it is kit built, are kits available? Do they sell sub-kits?

Kits are available through the US importer Aerotrek, as I understand there are two more to be arriving soon. As for sub-kits I have no idea, you would have to talk to Rob at Aerotrek.

http://www.aerotrek.aero/ela.htm

I've finished wiring the EIS and accessories to the instrument panel and it's ready to install in the aircraft but we've got cold, rainy weather here at the moment. Beyond that she's nearly ready to go.

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Hi,

The ELA structure is done in stainless steel AISI 304, using square tubing 50x50 mm with a thickness of 2 mm.
 
Panel wiring now complete, it took longer than anticipated due to adding additional controls and engine monitoring functions. The entire panel can be removed and set to one side with the wiring harness still attached to the aircraft.

The ELA has pneumatic trim and pre-rotator controls, the control valves and air tank are mounted in the back of the panel.

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Ya big tease ! Let's see the front of that panel !
 
Yesterday was a good day as we completed many tasks and were able to do the first engine run, all went well and Matt had a chance to taxi a bit before the sun went down.

Getting real close now.

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