Move to Hanger Continues

This has been another difficult time.  Wade graduated from medical school last weekend.  We drove to Gilbert, AZ for the birth of their 3^rd child and his graduation.  Wade graduated from Midwestern University as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine on May 31^st.  Bennett Alistair Jespersen was born the day before at 7:00 am.  We arrived that afternoon.  We are going to help Wade move his family to Erie, PA where he will do a 3-year residency.  I drive to Gilbert on the 12^th to help finish packing and load the truck.  Arlene will fly down on the 16^th (Father's Day) and  we leave for Erie, PA on the 17^th.  It will be a 3-day drive and then we will be there for a week to help unload, unpack and set up the house.  Then Arlene and I fly back to Phoenix on the 26^th then drive back to Sandy the next day.  I hope I survive.

I have been slowly moving into the hanger.  I received permission from the Salt Lake City Department of Airports to install an additional outlet and light fixture in the hanger.  I also constructed a work bench, hung up some prints and moved more parts to the hanger.

Start The Move To The Hangar

This afternoon I started to move the parts and pieces to the hangar.  Last week I put in some tables and shelving racks.  Today I moved the wheel pants, prop, stabilator tips and various and miscellaneous parts and pieces to finish the engine install.  The hanger still appears to be pretty barren, because it is, but the move in has started.

I HAVE A HANGAR

This afternoon I met with Matt Jensen of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports.  I signed a lease on a 'T' hangar at South Valley Regional Airport in West Jordan.  I have been on the waiting list for 3-years and I was beginning to think this day would never come, but it did!  The lease officially begins the 15^th of May, but Matt told me I could go and look at the hangar today and put the lock on the door.  He told me I can make some electrical changes if I would like to, but I need to let them know what I am doing before I do so.  Any improvements made to the hanger are to remain when I move out, so they won't be extensive.  I am going to check with my electracian to see about adding an overhead light and one more electrical outlet.  Anything else I do will just be free standing stuff like a work bench, storage shelves, tools, my compressor, etc.  The hangar is located on the north end of the facility, Row C #12.  

Arlene took these photos during our visit to the hangar that evening.

It was a bit o f an ordeal to get everything done.  I had to have some training before they could issue my badge.  The badge opens the electronic gate and authorizes me to be in the secure area of the airport.  I had to take the hanger lessee training for security and FOD (foreign object debris) to make sure I understand the need to keep  trash and debris from blowing around the airport.  Good stuff but a little common sense goes a long way in solving any challenges here.

I had doubts this day would ever arrive, but it has.  I am planning to move the wings and empennage to the hangar and put the engine cowling on here at home.  At that point I will move the whole thing to the hanger along with the tools and supplies.

Now that I have sold Mom's house in Orem and moved her to Boise I hope to have more time to devote to getting N419AJ finished and in the air!

Install Lower Fuselage Cover at Landing Gear

I finally installed the 2-corner covers at the main landing gear legs on each side of the fuselage.  I cut the pieces apart on the band saw.  I deburred the edges and then riveted them to the fuselage skin on each side below the main gear legs.  I inserted the plastic fill in plugs into the holes drilled in the bottom skin on each side of the fuselage.

Finish Installation of Landing Gear and Fuel Tank

This morning I purchased an extension for the 3/8" ratchet.  This afternoon I was able to torque the AN6 center bolt on the inboard attachment of the left main gear leg.  I then attached the brake line.  I proceeded to install the component for the right main gear leg.  I installed the outboard doubler and wear plates.  

I slipped the gear leg in place and loosely installed the outboard hold down bracket.  I then installed the inboard doubler and wear plates.  I installed the bolts and attached the inboard hold down bracket.  I then tightened all of the bolts sequentially until all bolts were seated properly.  I then torqued all of the bolts to the proper torque per the SB instructions.

I reinstalled the flexible duct in the mid channel by reattaching the cushioned clamps.  I also reinstalled the fuel tank.  I also reinstalled the ELT and the ELT antenna bracket.

The airplane is now sitting back on its own legs.