Beginning May 2024, I take up residence in the Farner hangar where Spirit of Sion is now parked, next to about fifteen other aircraft. I fit out a table, a desk, a minimum of tools and equipment but above all the indispensable coffee machine ! The dynamic of the place is very good, with planes that fly regularly and friendly owners.
The work organization is a little more complicated and less practical than when the plane was still in the workshop, but I enjoy this important step and quickly forget these small inconveniences. The finishing touches resume with the various wings to fuselage connections (mechanical, fuel, electrical and pneumatic lines).
The control surfaces are permanently mounted and connected to the stick by pushrods, and cables for the rudder. I take my time to adjust all this mechanic essential to flight. The flaps and electric elevator trim are also finalized. Everything works wonderfully, without friction, without interference and without play. Left seat installed, I can finally “fly” YB for the first time !
The long list of tasks to complete is progressively decreasing, the butterfly doors are adjusted and lock easily. The central tunnel is finalized with the installation of the fuel selector, fuel and ventilation lines. The wheel fairings are installed and the exhaust mounted. I begin the electrical connection of the 18 engine sensors, a foretaste of the last big chapter of this build.
Beginning October, while at Le Bourget, I take the opportunity to revisit the Air and Space Museum. The pioneers’ hall is now located in the historic and magnificently renovated terminal of the first Parisian airport. All these pioneers : Clément Ader, Ferdinand Ferber, Louis Blériot, the Voisin brothers in France, René Grandjean in Switzerland were also the first aircraft homebuilders in history. To realize their dream of flight, they had to design and build their machine with the means and knowledge of the time, paving the way for us !
I walk from the pioneers’ hall to the Concorde one. Barely more than 50 years separate these assemblies of wood and canvas from this aeronautical masterpiece that crossed the oceans at 2,200 km/h. Such a progress in a few decades is hard to comprehend…
The sky is the limit ! (There is no limits)
SOME PICTURES :
