---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 06/13/06: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 03:47 PM - Lightning progress (EAFerguson@AOL.COM) 2. 04:21 PM - Re: Lightning progress (Rick Bowen) 3. 06:04 PM - Re: Lightning progress (N1BZRich@AOL.COM) 4. 06:40 PM - Re: Lightning progress (Jerry Van Heeswyk) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 03:47:19 PM PST US From: EAFerguson@AOL.COM Subject: Lightning-List: Lightning progress To the list. The new fuselage design is in. Four of the revised fuselages have arrived in Shelbyville. I spent Monday (6/12) there with Nick changing parts over to my new fuselage. We made great progress. Good part of that was the learning curve effect. I didn't have to ask many questions and, as a result we got many of the parts changed over. A very productive day. Nick is hoping to send the new fuselage to the paint shop Tomorrow (Wed). I'll go back to Shelbyville when the paint is dry for final assembly. First flight could be by the end of this month. Please take whatever action your religion calls for to provide divine support. Not much visual difference, but the new fuselage is 30# lighter, and almost all the weight reduction is aft of the cockpit. Pete estimates that will move the CG about 1.5" forward. That will be a big help in W & B and will reduce the pitch sensitivity a bit. Buz likes the pitch sensitivity, but us non-fighter pilots will be more comfortable with the new results. Life is short, Fly Fast (and soon) Earl Ferguson N17EA ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 04:21:14 PM PST US From: "Rick Bowen" Subject: RE: Lightning-List: Lightning progress --> Lightning-List message posted by: "Rick Bowen" Great to hear Earl! I will be sure to ask for you some "divine support"... 8-) Any other differences in the "new" fuselages????(structure or interior?) Thanks for the news, I am like a starved animal waiting to hear some news on the Lightning's...This is what I get for getting involved early on with a new design! Best to 'ya, Rick >From: EAFerguson@aol.com >To: Lightning-List@matronics.com >Subject: Lightning-List: Lightning progress >Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:46:51 EDT > >To the list. > >The new fuselage design is in. Four of the revised fuselages have arrived >in >Shelbyville. I spent Monday (6/12) there with Nick changing parts over to >my >new fuselage. > >We made great progress. Good part of that was the learning curve effect. I >didn't have to ask many questions and, as a result we got many of the parts >changed over. A very productive day. Nick is hoping to send the new >fuselage to >the paint shop Tomorrow (Wed). > >I'll go back to Shelbyville when the paint is dry for final assembly. First >flight could be by the end of this month. Please take whatever action your >religion calls for to provide divine support. > >Not much visual difference, but the new fuselage is 30# lighter, and almost >all the weight reduction is aft of the cockpit. Pete estimates that will >move >the CG about 1.5" forward. That will be a big help in W & B and will reduce >the >pitch sensitivity a bit. Buz likes the pitch sensitivity, but us >non-fighter >pilots will be more comfortable with the new results. > >Life is short, Fly Fast (and soon) > >Earl Ferguson >N17EA ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 06:04:55 PM PST US From: N1BZRich@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Lightning progress Earl, Thanks for the update. I know you are excited to see all this progress. And the new lighter fuselage is a great thing for both CG and total aircraft weight. Do you have your paint colors and paint scheme all picked out? How about your instrument panel layout? All of that stuff is fun to do. Blue Skies, Buz ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 06:40:31 PM PST US From: "Jerry Van Heeswyk" Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Lightning progress Earl, thanks very much for the progress report. I spoke with Greg Hobbs earlier this evening, and I am told one of those fuselages has my name on it. My kit should be shipping in the next couple of weeks. I can't express how anxious I am to get going. In fact, Pete and the gang shipped my instument panel a few weeks ago, and I have it about ready to install. I don't have the EIS yet, so there is just a hole where it will reside, and I need to cut the holes for the air vents (not sure if the location is critical, and don't know the size, or it would be done by now). I had several British sports cars while growing up and liked the looks of the panels, so my Lightning panel has a wood veneer. I also have a hunk of leather just waiting to become upholstrey (ala Buz). My Lightning will be one of the first built outside Shelbyville, so I'm sure I will be seeking guidance from all of you experts.. Thanks in advance for the advice and counsel. Regards, Jerry Van Heeswyk ----- Original Message ----- From: EAFerguson@AOL.COM To: Lightning-List@matronics.com Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 3:46 PM Subject: Lightning-List: Lightning progress To the list. The new fuselage design is in. Four of the revised fuselages have arrived in Shelbyville. I spent Monday (6/12) there with Nick changing parts over to my new fuselage. We made great progress. Good part of that was the learning curve effect. I didn't have to ask many questions and, as a result we got many of the parts changed over. A very productive day. Nick is hoping to send the new fuselage to the paint shop Tomorrow (Wed). I'll go back to Shelbyville when the paint is dry for final assembly. First flight could be by the end of this month. Please take whatever action your religion calls for to provide divine support. Not much visual difference, but the new fuselage is 30# lighter, and almost all the weight reduction is aft of the cockpit. Pete estimates that will move the CG about 1.5" forward. That will be a big help in W & B and will reduce the pitch sensitivity a bit. Buz likes the pitch sensitivity, but us non-fighter pilots will be more comfortable with the new results. Life is short, Fly Fast (and soon) Earl Ferguson N17EA