Starting The Wings
The past few days have been spent doing research and asking a lot of questions. Supply chain issues are causing delays for all sorts of parts. My Finishing Kit has been held up for weeks. Garmin is experiencing shortages for certain avionics till July/Aug 22. Lycoming is anticipating delays in Thunderbolt engines. Lead times related to the -EXP119 engine, particularly the exhaust system, are rumored to be out to 10 months. These delays, plus where I am in the build process, are forcing me to make some choices so as to get in line for various things and get them ordered. I’m working with SteinAir on my panel design. I’m not reinventing the wheel. It’ll be a dual Garmin G3X with a GNX-375 Nav/Transponder, dual VHF radios, backup G5 and a 2-axis autopilot. I’m foregoing a VOR/ILS receiver and am comfortable with that choice. It’s similiar to many other panels. The details are tougher. Switch types, CB locations, panel color, stick grip functions, etc. There’s lots of opinions about everything. A Vertical Power setup interested me but after researching further I think I’ll stick with traditional CBs. I’m waffling a bit on engine choice too. The performance increase from the IO-390-EXP119 is compelling. But that engine requires some mods to my already completed QB fuse that’ll involve drilling out some rivets. A pain in the neck but do-able. Of bigger concern are delays in accessories related to the engine. I haven’t heard back yet from Van’s parts department to my email query. A standard IO-390-A3B6 allows me to move forward quicker with no mods needed and better accessory availability. With still great performance. I’ve gone about as far as I can on my fuselage without my Finishing Kit. So I pulled out my QB wings which have been gathering dust in my garage and began the tedious process of going through all the construction steps to make sure everything has been done to plans. And inventorying what then needs be accomplished. And more choices there as I need to decide what kind of pitot tube and mount I’m using (most likely Garmin) and whether I’ll install the Vans stall warning vane or just rely on AOA off the pitot tube which I’m considering.
