| Wes Whitehurst Carbon Monarch
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LOG:
July 11, 2001. We have just cut all the holes and fitted the BRS. This is quite an undertaking, the fuselage needs reinforcement and the Release cable needs threading through the fuselage. Deciding on the position of the release handle was a major chore. I wanted it in full view yet off of the instrument panel. The alternative position was just behind the control stick but in the event of a midair with the controls becoming jammed it may be unreachable. We had to cut a large hole in the fuselage for the parachute so the sides had to be reinforced wtih 5/8" carbon tubes.
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The nylon guide for the spoiler is epoxied in. |
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The large hole for the Parachute ... note the 5/8" carbon tubes on the sides to reinforce this area. Note the rocket sticking up. |
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The position of the release handle. |
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That's the Parachute.... weighs just about as much as the fuselage! Yes it does stick up out of the fuselage which will be partially covered by the wing root. |
July 06, 2001. Now the finishing of the fuselage and wing... the long hours of sanding and painting. But we did put fabric on the fin and smoothed the transition from fabric to fin wtih micorballoons. The rest of the mechanical items in the wing are nearly finsihed as well. I had some difficulty coming up with an aileron pushrod until it occurdd to me to use the same hardware that I was going to use in the fuselage.
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The rather oversized looking pushrod... but it is light and very functional! This is a mockup so do not worry about the tape holding it together! |
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The covered fin!... yes there are wrinkles in the fabric.....I will shrink it once everything is dry! |
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The sanded wing.....ready for final finishing after the fabric... and some hardware. |
June 29, 2001. The rudder is added and the wing strut attachment fittings bolted on.
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Now thats more like it..... a rudder! |
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The small phenolic tube was epoxied as a bushing between the stainless bolt and the carbon. |
June 25, 2001. A number of things done... spoilers epoxied in, seat rib attached to fuselage and some filling on the various joins in the fuselage. August 1 flying looks more promising now!
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Both Spoilers are epoxied in. |
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The aileron belcrank being epoxied in. |
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We have a fuselage! The seat has the flange bonded on... so no to the finish... then hte hardware. |
June 22, 2001. We have epoxied on the nose cone and will start the seat flange shortly. The left aileron need gussets and we have started the control system.
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Here is the first stage of the aileron belcrank. The attach point to the compression tube will have carbon added. Rather pleased with this.... at least half the weight of the metal one. |
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Fin Ribs ready to be installed. A new technique used here... battens of foam where enclosed by carbon to give added stiffness. This type of mold making is faster but produces a marginally heavier part. |
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AHA.... the nose cone is added to the fuselage!... waiting for the fin ribs and seat flange... then off to get painted!. |
June 19, 2001. Well we have on Aileron... yes and its 1 lb 8 ozs with metal ..... a lot lighter than the previously skinned aileron.The BRS is ordered, see the diagram below for the installation. We will have the emergency handle on the instrument panel.
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The right aileron with gussets, ready for fabric! |
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The last set of aileron ribs! |
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Another view of the wing! |
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Glider Student Jud Haines helping sort out the aileron ribs. |
June 15, 2001. We took Wednesday afternoon off to do some flying but there is still good progress! Most of the aileron ribs are now done.... that was a job... and the fuselage is coming along.
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Using the hot sun to cure the new aileron rib molds! |
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Aileron Rib plugs |
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Finally molds! Jeff is giving them one last inspection!!!! |
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The fin installed on the fuselage. |
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. August 23, 2001 to Sept 23, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. July12, 2001 to August 23,, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. June 11, 2001 to July 11, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. May 18, 2001 to June 11, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. Apr 2, 2001 to May 14, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. Jan 13, 2001 to Mar 27, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. December15 to Jan 13, 2001
Past photos of the Wes Monarch. Early December 2 to December 18, 2000