Falconar F11A Elevator

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May 7th, 2006
49hrs total

I've started on the elevator ribs.

May 15th, 2006
7rs - 56hrs total.

This week was rather slow. With a ruptured hot water tank (blew as I was working 3 feet away!), Mother's day, etc, my time was limited on the aircraft.  The elevator and horizontal stab ribs are completed.

The next step is to order more wood.  I thought I had ordered all the lumber required to complete both stab spars and the elevator spar.  In reality, I forgot a single critical piece of lumber from each spar!  Poor planning on my part.

I should have purchased a table saw for my wife for Mother's Day.  Then, I could have finish the aileron and rudder while I am waiting for the new shipment of wood.  The couch is not that uncomfortable. ;-)

Up to now, the construction of the Falconar F11a used:

1 -  8oz epoxy - 4oz resin / 4oz hardener 
1 -  sheet 1.5mm ply (59"x59")
about $300cdn worth of finished lumber.

June 11th, 2006
4hrs - 60hrs total

Do you know why women nag - cause it works...  I borrowed this technique that men have fallen prey to for millennia and now I am the proud owner of a new table saw!!  We men have still much to learn from our better halves.

Construction has started on the jigs required to trim the leading and trailing edges for the Aileron, Rudder, Stab, and Elevator.  An example of the trimming required can be seen here.

Aug 03, 2006

4hrs - 96hrs total.

Assembly of the Falconar F11a elevator is started.  The individual parts that make up the elevator are sanded to shape and held together with tape.  As can be seen in the picture, I am working on one half at a time.  The parts needed to assemble the second half are to the right of the picture.  After everything is fitting, aligned and I am satisfied, they will be glued.

Aug 03, 2006

8hrs - 104hrs total.

Assembly of the elevator is almost completed.  Once the hinges and control horns are installed, (and TC's inspection), the elevator can be covered.  The material to build the hinges and control horn is ordered and hopefully will be in early next week.  As a whole, the tail of the aircraft is starting to look rather, airplane-like.