First flights of 2010

Westonzoyland airfield was deserted today, so I had the whole runway to myself. I've not been flying since November 15th last year and I see some work has been done to improve the pits area by scalping back the over growth. It looks much better and well done to all those who did it.

I brought the Sunbeam today, but I wish I'd brought the Yak and the Pico-Jet as the weather was perfect. Lightly broken cloud and a light air moving from the South West. Taking off and landing in any direction would not be a problem in these conditions and due to the conditions I had some perfect landings. There's something very satisfying about a perfect touch down.



     = new parts


On the engineering front I've sucessfully case hardened the gears, hardened the rockers, manufactured the cams and hardened them and the cam followers are manufactured and ready for hardening.

More on Rockers

Finished them today...

Rockers

Two different sizes for Port and Starboard, this is to compensate for the 9mm stagger on the cylinder alignment and to ensure that the Port and Starboard valves operate with equal geometry. Two 3mm dia. holes have been drilled in each Rocker, the centre is for the fulcrum and the other is for lightening. To manufacture the Rockers, I've made a fixture to machine the lightening necking and to drill and tap the M2.0 threaded hole for the Tappet adjustment screw. All this will become apparent when you see the finished items in a future blog. In the mean time, here's some pix of what I've done today:-

Blanks cut from the material they're sat on. (5mm Gauge plate)

The fixture for cutting the necking.

Ready to start machining...

I learned today the results of my AGM proposal to pit on the North side of the runway when the wind is from the South. A resounding failure in the voting, 5 for, 19 against. The reasons given were due to a motor cycle training school setting up on the Southern perimeter and the main road being nearby. In fact, setting up on the South side means you are a runways' width closer to both. Oh! well, I guess I'll not be going flying when the wind is from the South in future as I don't feel safe in the pits when others are taking off towards the South side. I wonder if someone decides to set up a business near the North side of the runway or on the Hammer head, if we'll get kicked off the site due to health and safety reasons. It could so easily happen.

Happy First Day of the Year

I thought about going flying today and I even put my gear on charge, but it was quite windy here at home so it would be twice as windy at Westonzoyland. Second thoughts, I'll do some engineering. Finished the gear box today.

On the Rotary Table having the radii machined

Upper side showing assembly detail. See also last Photo

Underside, showing cam shaft housing





Its all in the detail