Mike Couts after the first high flight! Sept 30, 2001

Our story follows:

Jan 30, 2002. More work on the trailing edges!

	The new carbon triling edge!
	The Wingtip molds being fabricated! top side.

Jan 23, 2002. Lots of work to do leveling the wings. The panel gluing was very successful!

	Clamping sitka to the area around the spoiler.
	Wing templates on the wing again. sometimes it is hard to know exactly where to start with the wing leveling. There does not appear to be any twist, but getting a straight trailing edge will be a challenge.

Jan 16, 2002. Mike Glues on the root panel

Jan 12, 2002. We are finally back at work after a three week christmas vacation! Mike did a lot of work over the holdidays fitting the root plywood panels and repositioning of the linear bearings.

	Mike replacing the right root top wing panel.
	Mike on the router.
	Now, that is a new Pioneer wingtip designed by Jim Marske. They have a slight upward curl to them.This will be the plug for our mold.
	Building up the ribs to get a straight trailing edge!

Dec 5, 2001. Work progresses... but at least we are starting to rebuild rather than just take apart. We replaced the root rib of the left wing , started leveling the areas for the replacement plywood and have done some trial fittings of the airfoil. Note the Sink rate below, notice that the sink rate is very flat to 80 mph!

	This is for a pilot weight of 190 lbs, and and aircraft empty weight of 410 lbs with the 15 meter wing. Note the pretty flat sink rate to about 80 mph.
	Jeff manning the new Belt sander wtih Mike smoothing out the rib.
	Mike...( hiding behind the root rib) and Jeff fitting the new rib

Dec 2, 2001. Satruday it all seemed discouraging but by sunday our attitude changed and we forged ahead. Jim drew out the airfoils, we cut them out and it is possible for us to do. We revised the drag of the airfoil, upped the empty weight and came up with about 112 ft per min sink and about 36:1 for the L/D. Jim has drawn the new wing tips... very nice!

	Mike acting as the CNC machine cutting out the airfoil templates. ( he is a lot cheaper)
	The airfoil templates loosly fitted.

Nov 26, 2001. Its too late to turn back...We have a long road ahead, long nights of working!... (Hope Liz reads this and brings over her barbeque... we get hungry....her food was great this summer... hint). We are going to extend the wingtips to 15 meters and that will give us a theoretical sink rate of 112 ft/min sink: not too shabby. The max L/d will be about 33:1

	Mike ripped off the warped plywood: the insides are really pretty good for an amateur builder. AS Mike constatnly reminds us " If you are going to do a rebuild do it right!"...
	Cutting off the trailing edge.

Nov 24, 2001. Mike spent the day removing the rather heavy micro mixture and sawed of the wing tips.

Nov 22, 2001. The Pioneer rebuild! It was a bit pain to see the fabric come off but it was a lot of fun... and sure cut dowsn the weight in a hurry.

	Mikes familiar face through the wing... no turning back now!
	The crew, Mike Wes and Jim. Happily the basic structure is fine... but it sure needs new trailing edges!
	Well there it is....fabric removed showing the filler!

Flying the Pioneer Oct 01-Dec 01

Pioneer travels and rework prior to Sept 30, 2001

Designer:
Jim Marske

Phone :(740)-223-3550
Marske Flying Wings
c/o Marion Industrial Center
3007 Harding Higway East
Marion ,OH, 43302