| The Re-Profiling of Mike Hostages Pioneer IId Wings Mike Hostage has been one of the more active Pioneer IId flyers. His building of the Pioneer IId started in 1988 and finally took to the air in 1994. His regular job is flying F-16's! See his building log http://www.continuo.com/marske/pioneer/hostage/log.htm See also his photogallery Mike decided to upgrade the wings by having them reprofiled by the Marske Shop.
|
Mike soaring his Pioneer IId |
Mike Hostages Pioneer Updates:
Jan 30, 2003. Mike has sent along some updates of his Pioneer. He has constructed a moving Weight and hinged his canopy from the front,
 |
Mike has been busy. He has put a moveable weight in the fuselage operated by the rolling side handles ( note the three white buttons). Note too the forward hinged canopy. |
 |
Another view of the hinged canopy. |
The Rebuilding Process:
October 2, 2003. The day finally came for Mike Hostage to test his new wings. We spent some time in the shop then wnet to the field for an autotow then a high flight with aerotow.
 |
Mike in the air. Jim and Mat chased him in the Grob 103. |
 |
Mike on aerotow. |
 |
With the Pioneer III in the background Mike Hostage is helping with attaching the new wings in our crowded shop. |
 |
Late at night we are just abour finished and Mike sits in the cockpit making glider noises getting ready for the testing on October 2, 2003. |
 |
The assembly at the airport |
 |
Jim Talks to Mike just before the takeoff |
 |
We have lift off! |
 |
Its in the air and flying! |
 |
Mike hostage flying at 5000 msl with Mat and Jim in the Grob 103 taking pictures. |
 |
Mike telling us about his two hour test flight of the new wings!It definitely had a much higher L/D at high speed... but there still is a lot of sealing to be done and the polishing and waxing of the wings. |
August 9, 2003. The ailerons and elevators are fitted and the cloth gap seals are installed.
 |
Mat fitting the wingtip |
 |
The lower elevator gap ready for the cloth gap seal (tapered). Note the elevator trim tab which I want to take off.... better to have a sliding weight or bungee chord inside the cockpit to avoid the drag. |
August 1, 2003. The Wings, ailerons and wing tips are finally painted. Now to put it all together and wait for Mike to bring up his fuselage so we can fly it. This is the very best example of the Pioneer IId wings and should give far greater performance than our own Pioneer IId rebuilt last year. A lot of extra care was take to get these absolutely correct!
 |
The final coat is done... thats a very long process of sanding and painting! |
 |
The wing tips are finally painted. these require quite a different technique with a very fine spray and careful attention. |
 |
Ailerons done too. |
June 27, 2003. Painting is finally underway!
 |
Polybrush has been applied to the left wing. |
 |
The poly spray is applied on the right wing. |
June 15, 2003. The left wing is now covered! So on to the aileron pushrod covers. and the inevitable spray coats.
 |
Tightening the fabric.Both wings are covered now. |
June 13, 2003. Finally we are putting the fabric on! One wing is complete
 |
Wes applying the Poly tac msking sure the glue is of the correct consistency. If it is too thick it makes a bumpy surface. We usually apply two coats. |
 |
Here the fabric is alid over the dry cement and then wetted from the top side with the solvent and then rubbed to work the glue through the cloth. |
 |
Wes rubbing the cement through |
 |
Cutting the top and bottom layers of cloth so there is no overlay just under the leading edge of the bottom side |
 |
Applying a little micro to the joint just to make that perfect fit! |
 |
The right wing covered june 12, 2003 |
June 5, 2003. Finally the wings are at a point where we can start the finishing. One must attend to every detail because putting paint on any uneven surface exaggerates the problems. To help fill the pin holes on the filler and fiberglass we are using Smooth Prime from polyfiber...a really excellent product.
 |
Wes wet sanding the smooth pime on the wing tip. |
 |
The ailerons pianted with smooth prime on the table donated by Herb Abrams. |
 |
The wing being sanded after being painted with smooth prime. |
May 28, 2003.
 |
The automatic hookup system for the attachemnt of the wingtips. Just push the wingtips on and they are attached. To remove the tips use a slot screwdriver and give it a quarter turn. |
 |
Close up of the auto hook up |
 |
Final fitting of the ailerons by Wes before the smooth prime application to fill pin holes. |
May 17, 2003
 |
A mixture of Microballoons and epoxy being added to the surface of the aileron to make it smooth. |
May 15, 2003. The right aileron is now complete.... just sanding and a little filling.
 |
Wes hot wiring the top of the right aileron. |
 |
Sanding the top of the right aileron to fit the wing. |
May 8, 2003: Yes putting on the steam for the ailerons!... the left one is completely glassed now.
 |
The undersurface is glassed!... the shiny film is shrink wrap that gives a smooth surface to the aileron. |
 |
The right wing aileron in the making. |
May 1, 2003. Good progress on the wing! The upper surface of the ailerons is now glassed and the lower spoiler removed and the ribs filled.
 |
The top surface glassed..... yes it has heat shrink wrap over it to give a finished surface. |
 |
The top surface ready for glassing |
 |
Hot wiring the top surface of the aileron to confrom with the wing. |
 |
The foam is glued on the ailerons spar |
April 23, 2003 Now on to the ailerons, yes the wing is still being final filled and sanded but our attnetion is now to the ailerons. Mike and Mat developed this process and Wes who now works in the shop (former computer programer.. now looking for a job) has taken over this aspect of the project!A quick message from Mike indicates he is aiming for the end of may to have the fuselage done and we will mate the two and go fly!
 |
The bottom spoilers have been removed and here Wes is cutting out the now redundant parts. |
 |
Here Wes made a perfect edge on the foam using the "Mike Couts Hot wire cutter" and now he is gluing tow pieces together to get the correct length for one of the ailerons. |
 |
Here Wes has wetted out one of two layers of 6 oz glass in preparation for laying it on the spar mold just in front of him... yes it is black and hard to see! |