A Cub is Born! NX91RJ

[Sikorsky]

[FONT=&quot]The build took 1,776 days, and much was learned throughout the process. I figured out how to build an airplane but learned more about living. It’s remarkable how much can happen in the amount of time it takes to build an airplane. Lifelong friends were made, disposition tested, life created, and life taken. There were tears of laughter, tears of shared sorrow. Kindness and joy were found in people unexpected. Even though the plane is now finished, if it were pushed out into the middle of the yard and lit on fire, it would still be a success. The people and memories will remain long beyond tubing and fabric. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]There isn’t one nut, bolt, cotter pin, or rivet in the airplane that I didn’t make, install, alter or touch in some way, but I by no means lived the last 1,776 days without help. The following is a list of people who positively influenced my life in some way, shape, or form. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Jim Jackson, my dad and life long airplane builder[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Doug Junker, (posthumously) legal scholar, banker, philanthropist, teacher for all things creative, mentor, non-official flight instructor, friend to the end[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mason Zetah, the man that can make metal magic happen, an authentic craftsman, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jason Anderson, out of the norm thinker, excellent welder and fabricator, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Kelsey Saba, aircraft structural and component virtuoso/cookie maestro, Javron [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Beau Oium, gifted machinist and extremely helpful for figuring out and duplicating oddly threaded “stuff,” Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ben Wing, fantastic machinist, lathe expert, and my go to when I dorked **many** drill bits, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Matt Solderman, wing expert and great source for miscellaneous hardware, cantankerous soul with a profound, and much appreciated desire to help, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mike Karlson, fantastic help for all office and ordering needs, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mike Brown, spectacular welder, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Tim Bach, my go to when I needed to find something and I didn’t want Jay to know what I was up to, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jesse Montague, excellent structural fuselage welder, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jay Derosier, Cub guru, chief detective for shop pranks, “one wheel” slow speed pursuit co-defendant, Javron[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mark Fiedler, Chief Aircraft Therapist specializing in remedying psychological issues involving Cub construction, Captain of the “Screaming Super Chicken.” [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bill Rusk, mental health therapist for my mental health therapist [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Brandon Wilson, a guaranteed source for a belly laugh when needed, cub guy brother from another mother, co-conspirator in slow speed one wheel pursuits [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Joe Birkemeyer, Baumann amphib expert, formerly of Baumann Floats, North Point Aviation[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jay Poshak, J.L.H.B.F. R. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mark Poshak[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Linda Poshak, extremely tolerant lake home baron who facilitated me covering an airplane in a spectacular space fit for a national geographic photographer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The Patka Family, (et al), tolerant neighbors who never called the cops once![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Douten Thomas[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Steve Trutschel[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Rob Palmer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jonathan McCormick, Evoke Aircraft Design[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Chris Weis, when others couldn’t get cockpit placarding accomplished, this man performed faster than I could imagine, and with stellar results, I strongly endorse this company, Aerographics[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Kris Wells[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Brandon Tautges[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Clyde Smith [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Huston Marlowe[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bob Turner[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Kevin Dunrud, Horizon Aircraft Engine Services[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lycon Aircraft Engines[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Randy Apling, Carbon Concepts [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Steve Wagner, DAR[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bill Zarn, a “can do” person who provided after hours energy service and good conversation to boot. Remarkable how when the need arises, the white haired oil company owner shows up to the farm to solve my problem. Thank you Bill, you are appreciated. Zarns Oil Co. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]To those above, and those who I have failed to mention, thank you for your willingness to share your abilities, patience, kindness, and in many cases friendship. The vocation you have chosen isn’t just a job, you are contributing happiness to the world and peoples lives depend on you. You all have added value to my life, and soon to others who will be enjoying NX91RJ with me, for (hopefully) many years to come. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Temporary steward for Romeo Juliet,[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Zach Jackson[/FONT]

 

[Bill Rusk]

Photos from Zac of his project.

Zac's awesome dog. Very well trained and a pleasure to be around

And the best for last. Photos of Zac's project, then beautifully completed cub. Oshkosh winner for sure.

Bill

 

[Sikorsky]

Thank you Bill for the kind words, you are a true friend. Everything I screwed up, I threw away and did again. And again. AND again. The scrap pile was at times comical but failure is a large part of success! Embrace failure and don't give up!!!

Zach

 

[Dan Gervae]

Great Job! I often try to explain the feeling of completing a build to someone that has not done it, or someone who isn’t a pilot and they look at me funny because i get a little dreamy eyed about it….your comment about lighting it on fire and watching burn and still calling it a success is very accurate. Supercub.org and all the many folks you mentioned help so many accomplish these dreams here. I’ve never really considered building an Oshkosh winner always telling myself I’d be afraid to take it out to play…but Bill Rusk plays his Award Winning Cub pretty hard, so what the hey. Reading this inspires me to maybe want to do another build soon. Very nice job sir! Enjoy that Cub now.

 

[WWhunter]

Looks awesome....when can I expect a visit?

 

[courierguy]

You scratch builders are awesome, to this 5 time kit put togetherer. When a non pilot asks me if I built my plane, I make it clear that I assembled a kit. They don't get the difference, but we assemblers do.

 

[Sikorsky]

I appreciate the kind words. It was a lot of work but it was just solving a sequence of challenges and moving on to the next. Nothing was hard, some stuff just needed more attempts to get right. Like taking a razor to the fuselage fabric because it wasn't up to standards. I had an audience for that one... The second time turned out great! The plane isn't perfect, or to my eye it isn't anyhow, it's just the best I could do. Oshkosh placement wasn't nor is the goal but should it receive some love this year, it would be very humbling as there are some extraordinary airplanes that show up at the gathering.

Keith, are you in the frozen tundra curently or are you in some tropical palm tree laden mystery location?

Courierguy- The sentiment is appreciated. Kit building vs scratch building both have plusses and negatives. AND both are a lot of work! Don't minimize your efforts in putting together a kit!

 

[WWhunter]

I appreciate the kind words. It was a lot of work but it was just solving a sequence of challenges and moving on to the next. Nothing was hard, some stuff just needed more attempts to get right. Like taking a razor to the fuselage fabric because it wasn't up to standards. I had an audience for that one... The second time turned out great! The plane isn't perfect, or to my eye it isn't anyhow, it's just the best I could do. Oshkosh placement wasn't nor is the goal but should it receive some love this year, it would be very humbling as there are some extraordinary airplanes that show up at the gathering.

Keith, are you in the frozen tundra curently or are you in some tropical palm tree laden mystery location?

Courierguy- The sentiment is appreciated. Kit building vs scratch building both have plusses and negatives. AND both are a lot of work! Don't minimize your efforts in putting together a kit!

I'm not cold if that tells you anything! LoL South Texas at the moment. Drove by Elon Musk's Space-X facility on Thursday in Boca Chica, TX.

 

[tempdoug]

did you use aluminum lift struts?

 

[Sikorsky]

did you use aluminum lift struts?

I used the sealed 85547 lift struts. Not cheap but I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel… tried and true method.

Zach

 

[Sikorsky]

The fun has begun! With just a few minor issues sorted in the first couple hours the plane is running flawlessly. I have enough time on it now to trust it, and thought yawl would like a picture of part of todays enjoyment. Burn gas. Live life. Share the fun.