August 20, 2017

New Updates.

More updates to the MGM Compro Rex 30 Motor Click here to see that post.

August 7, 2017

Dean Sigler, writes the Sustainable Skies blog for the Sustainable Aviation Foundation. Dean recently wrote a post about MGM Compro Electric Powerplants.

Click here to see that post.

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August 1, 2017

Just returned from AirVenture 2017 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. This year was spectacular. There was a significant increase in the attendance this year, and the weather was about as good as any year that we have ever seen. We did arrive Saturday before the show. The only disaster was another blown tire on the trailer on Friday night after normal working hours. We were able to limp into Des Moines’s Iowa. We gave Carol a call and she started working the Internet and found a mobile tire service that was able to procure a new tire for the trailer at Walmart and then install it in the McDonald’s parking lot while we were having dinner. Off and running on the way to Oshkosh. We were in Oshkosh by late Saturday and began set up on Sunday morning. Sunday was actually busier than we had ever seen before. It was surprising how much traffic there was asking questions about the EMG-6 and Rainbow Aviation Services light sport repairman maintenance classes just on Sunday the set up day. During the week our schedule was pretty jampacked with forum presentations twice each day except for the AMT awards ceremonies that took up pretty much all of Wednesday. we worked pretty much all the way through the following Sunday and began the tear down process late Sunday while simultaneously setting up for the light sport repairman inspection class that we held in the Vetty theater in the EAA Museum on the following Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday we got up early to shoot Hint’s for homebuilder videos for EAA and were able to finish up 13 videos before starting our trek back to California. We arrived back in Corning late Friday night after 40 hours of driving with stops for gasoline, food and one night in a hotel in Winnemucca Nevada. The boys in the shop will have a well-deserved break over the next week and we should be back in swing shortly thereafter.
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Landing gear shock strut components

We have been working on sets of landing gear shock strut components to be shipped out.

Shock strut lower end fitting

This is step one in the machining process of 3 different machining processes to make these and fittings that attach the shock strut to the landing gear leg assembly.

Hollowed out

The fittings are hollowed out to reduce weight during the machining process in the CNC lathe.

Step one in the machining process completed

Step one complete and the end fittings are ready for the other 2 machining steps.

Nuts

These nuts are the jam nuts for the landing gear fork end adjuster.

Lift strut attach fitting

These components are fairly large, and as such, we can only cut to fittings from a single piece of 4130. The individual pieces are 6" x 12" and the ability to hold them in the milling vice is based on the amount of material left over that we can squeeze with the vice without collapsing the thin sheet metal plates.

Lift strut attach fitting

Another picture of cutting out the lift strut attach fitting from .090 4130 chromoly steel

Cutting landing gear plunger washers

In this picture here you can see us cutting out a large washer that is used for the landing gear shock strut plunger to press against the large die spring.

Parts tumbler

We use this machine with a built-in timer to deburr and finish each 1 of the parts after manufacturing.

Lift strut attached fittings being tumbled

Inside the tumbler is a rubber lined tub filled with ceramic media. The ceramic blocks will deburr all of the sharp edges and put a nice finish coat on to each of the metal parts.

Set up day AirVenture 2017

Rainbow Aviation Services and Adventure Aircraft (EMG-6) share 2 spaces at the air show. Since each space is 40 x 40 that allows us to have enough room for 2 aircraft on display along with the rainbow aviation booth and the 40 foot long trailer. Having a tail stand for the electric version of the aircraft is very helpful. Everyone wants to come back and look at the electric motor installation.

Rainbow Aviation Booth

Having the booth really made a difference from past years where we tried to stay out of the sun by hiding in the shadow of a wing.

Re-assembling the aircraft

During the set up day we had to set up the booth as well as assemble both aircraft back into their display states. Because prototype #3 did not have any fabric covering on it we had to keep it covered during any rainstorms. It rained several times during the air show but overall the weather was excellent.

General Aviation Awards Ceremonies

There were actually 4 separate events for the general aviation awards. The night before a meet and greet dinner with past award winners and this years winners. Charles Gensler CFI of the year, and Mark Ducorsky FAAST team rep of the year. The primary awards presentation put on by the FAA in the FAA building at AirVenture ( this picture), A general aviation awards luncheon, And a recognition by the current FAA administrator (Michael P. Huerta) in the theater in the woods.

General Aviation Awards luncheon

During the general aviation awards luncheon the sponsors of the program were recognized. ASA was one of the sponsors and they presented each of the recipients a flight bag with all kinds of goodies in it. Including several gift certificates for aviation supplies from King schools, ASA, and other Sponsors.

Checking out the goodies