Connected aileron trim
The sun was still out when I got home, so I asked Julie to help me with the canopy. We rolled the plane outside, this time used a screwdriver to help remove the gas struts, and took off the canopy. No sweat.
While I had the plane outside, I put the data cards in the 430W and fired it up. Took only about 2-3 minutes before the GPS found itself. That’s re-assuring.
Next I crawled in the cockpit and worked on attaching the aileron trim motor. The budget method used by Vans is some .040 safety wire. I did a trial run first, just twisting the wire a few times by hand. Seemed to work OK. I then made some nicer looking ones with the safety wire pliers to the same length. One minor problem is that the instructions have you move the stick full left and forward. Well, I don’t have the elevators or ailerons hooked up, so I had to estimate that part. I think I got it to the point where there’s light spring tension in all trim positions without any slack on the springs. Works pretty good.
Next up was the seat harnesses. I quickly found out that the fatter bushing on the Hooker lap bolts are going to need a longer bolt, AN4-7A instead of AN4-6A. I only had one bolt that was long enough. I did get the shoulder and crotch straps installed. Looks pretty good.
