SPAIN SONEX
ON NOVEMBER 25, 2010, my Sonex s/n 553 took off for the first time into a deep
blue Spanish sky at La Axarquia airfield. It is my third flying project and the
most heartwarming to build and fly. It is really fast and fun to fly and exactly
meets the design expectations. The biggest challenge in building the Sonex was
the all-metal construction itself. My first projects were tube and fabric planes
(Kitfoxes), and the Sonex was an excellent project to start with for all-metal
building. Other challenges included adjusting the engine cowling (dealing with
the itching fiberglass powder), cutting and adjustment of the plexiglass canopy
(very delicate and subtle job), and finally deburring thousands of holes (tedious).
Minor modifications include an improved electric elevator trim tab (instead of
the wire-actuated one specified in plans). Thanks and congratulations to John
Monnett for the project, which will allow me to spend hours of fun in the sky
over my country.
Miguel Mendez, EAA 260709; Estepona, Malaga, Spain; E-mail: mendezmail@gmail.com
VIRGINIA STEARMAN
THE FIRST FLIGHT took place after a six-year, two-week, and four-day
restoration (but who’s counting). The plane flew straight with only
very minor tweaking. It was really cold on December 8, 2010. I
looked like “Nanook of the North.” I always liked the Stearman both
because of its history and the open-cockpit biplane lore. I made no
modifications to the plane except building an electrical panel that
looks more period than what was in the plane. The only difficulty I
encountered was the fact that it’s a large airplane. The newest skills I
learned are the fabric work, which I had never done, and the rigging,
which took a few days to figure out. It did fly straight the first time,
so I guess I won that one.
Lou Radwanick, EAA 310245; Virginia Beach, Virginia; E-mail: radwanick@cox.net
ARIZONA CHALLENGER II
I AM VERY PROUD of my Challenger II from Quad City Ultralight. It is
powered by a 503 Rotax engine with a two-bladed Tennessee prop
and is fitted with Puddle Jumper floats. I began this project a couple
years before I retired and accelerated the building after retirement
in 2006. I was fortunate to have an excellent Challenger dealer in
the Phoenix area—Mike Harrison (Skyes the Limit) at the Glendale
Municipal Airport. He offered a dealer-assist program to help me in
the areas I was weak and assisted with the covering and painting.
We finished the project in February 2010. I trailered the plane to
Wisconsin last year to hangar it at West Bend Municipal Airport. I
flew into the big show at Oshkosh last year and was pleased to
receive the Reserve Grand Champion award for Light Sport. In addition, I entered the plane at the Copperstate Fly-In in October 2010 at
the Casa Grande Municipal Airport, Arizona, and was awarded the
Reserve Grand Champion and second place in the Tube and Fabric
category. This picture was taken on a flight last spring into Lake
Roosevelt, Arizona.
