qsmx440

Well if this blog business works this will be where I document my Supercub clone build. In reality this project started about 8? months ago and has been scattered over a few different sites. If this looks good then this is where I will post pictures, build notes and questions I will have to help progress.

I have had my private license since the late 70's? but I was inactive for many years. A few years back I started flying a Quicksilver Sprint ultralight. The performance was an eyeopener after the Cessnas I was used to. Other than top speed it got airborn in 50-60 feet and was at 800' agl by the end of the runway at my airport. Soon I wanted a bigger airplane with a little more speed and endurance. In all my prior flying I had never paid any attention to the Piper products considering myself a Cessna man. Another thing I had found was that I liked the owner maintenance idea of the homebuilt. I first looked at the CH-701 and considered building my own plane for the first time. But.. Something was not as I wanted. I moved to the Bearhawk but decided it wasn't quite right as a fit either. Somewhere along the way I discovered this site and also Christian Sturms supercubproject.com site and the "drawings " button. Wow! I could do this! And here I am.

I need to add here this is going to be an elsa aircraft so the gross weight will be set at 1320#. I intend to reach this goal even if the plane winds up being a single place. I plan on empty weight not exceeding 950#. Basically the mission is boring holes in the sky. Reaching this goal will mean that the A/C will be built with:
no electrical system
no interior
non adjustable seat
maybe one wing tank
maybe no wing tips (to be discussed)
small (600 or 850) tires
wood prop


At present I have :
A sheet of .020 titanium for the firewall
A box of new 1980's Schneider ribs for the main wing (no control surface parts)
A 1977 Supercub fuselage (no corrosion but some bad past repairs)
A 1957 narrow deck O-320 Lycoming w/750 smoh w accys
firewall forward cowling and nose bowl
Sensenich 74-52? prop with spinner
2 front and 1 rear lift strut
2 gear legs (no cabane v or suspension)
set of single puck Cleveland brakes
all 6 tail pieces through "tacked" (the only real building so far) completely from raw materials
new main wing spars
partially completed seat
stabilyzer jack screw assy complete (needs new screw)
engine mount with a cracked tube (upper right?)

total spent so far about 13,000

I still need:

fuel tanks
main wheels and discs
suspension
tail wheel
compression struts and drag/anti drag wires
controls and cables/pulleys
one rear lift strut
four ea jury struts and mounts
heel brakes
to build pedals, torque tube, etc etc etc..
Stewarts covering system ($3200)
boot cowl parts


I am busy for the next 4 months on a contract job that has enabled me to purchase as-I-go the above parts so no actual building now. I look to be freed up in the spring.

The main decision I am looking at now is how I will build my main wing. I have purchased d&E spars