1. Using an old front
spar a fixture was developed to laminate
a new one.
2. Spruce laminates
were laid up in the fixture.
3. Technician Bill
Strauss retrieves the rough front spar
laminate from the fixture.
4. Rear spar laminates
were glued together on the laminating
table.
5. When disassembled,
the original horizontal stabilizer
revealed the abuse
it had taken over the years.
Mice and squirrels love the nice dark
cozy habitats that old airplane parts
create!
6. The new vertical
stabilizer spars and ribs were assembled
in a fixture duplicating the original
dimensions.
7. Technicians Bill
Strauss and Brian Pipher test fit of
rudder to new vertical stabilizer.
8. Rough laminates
for the horizontal spars ready for
shaping.
9. The horizontal spars
have been given their final shaping
and dimensions ready for assembly of
ribs in a fixture.
10. Final assembly
of the horizontal in the fixture ready
for tip skins and leading edge skins
to be applied.
11. Tip skins being
applied to the horizontal.
12. Leading edge skins
being applied to the horizontal.
13. The vertical and
horizontal stabilizers being fitted
to the airframe.
14. Final fit of the
empennage pieces which were produced
by technicians Jeremy Harris, Brian
Pipher, Bill Strauss and John Pike.
15,
16. Confirming gaps
and alignments are correct.
If other owners
of derelict T 50’s are interested in following
our progress or having us help them with their owner produced wooden
wings, please feel free to communicate. One thing is for sure, though,
there will no longer be any “cheap” Bamboo Bombers!
Also visit the "Bamboo Bomber"
Club at: www.cessnaT50.org
Click
Here: "Bamboo
Bomber" Cessna UC78 / T-50
Bobcat Page
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