LASER Z2300           Last update - 04-15-2010
On going progress report of the build. 
If you like watching a glacier move,  then this is your page!!!

Here is what we are striving for:



4-15-10 - Told ya' I was slow to update- Wing basic frame is assembled.  Jigged, leveled, squared, leveled & squared again, leveled & squared again - Epoxied ribs & rear spar in place. Filpped wing squared & leveled about 3 more times & epoxied front ribs & spar. Ailerons are being built similarly (photos to follow someday) -
Wing fuel tanks were made with a hotwired foam core , glassed & then the backs were epoxied in place, finally pressure checked - then pinholes filled, then pressure checked, then pinholes filled........
Front & rear seats are done as well as floorboards, & all control mechanisms. Aluminum turtledeck shown will be replace with plywood one. 		wing  
fwd seat.jpg (105195 bytes)
8-24-09  (Gee, only 90 days since last update - somebody is slacking).  Grove gear and, Screamin Eagle tailwheel installed. Horizontal tail group is now complete except for fiberglass tips. Trim per plans would have to fabricated in place, so the torque are was split. The trim systems uses a MAC servo, stainless ball joints. For the rudder, a ground adjustable tab will be installed (it will also house the tail & strobe LED lights).  Also continued work on making front cockpit fit someone with legs.  Reconfigured aileron actuator to remove the middle bellcrank. Slightly more complex and I will have to modify skin on right side of fuselage.  Also front pedal will be smaller.  Turtledeck now in conceptual phase. elev trim1.jpg (113818 bytes) elev trim5.jpg (100897 bytes) old stick.jpg (109308 bytes)
aileron mech.jpg (104547 bytes) upper bellcrank.jpg (80550 bytes) stick details.jpg (109447 bytes)
tutrledeck.jpg (107209 bytes) 
5-20-09 Ribs are done except for final sanding & fitting. Wing jig will be next  Continued work on fuse - front pedal mounts installed, tail spring, main gear mounts.  ribs 1.jpg (87687 bytes) ribs 2.jpg (92106 bytes) ribs 3.jpg (46463 bytes)
4-4-09 Wing kit arrived from (and with) Bill Scheunemann -www.precisionam.net great example of old world craftsmanship & new age CNC  tools. I have coated spars with West systems epoxy to & it looks like a piece of fine furniture! Notes front rib capstrips are already precut with curves. Capstrips are now  cut & fitted to ribs. Epoxy time is next  I will post pics of finished ribs as soon as digital photos get developed.  wing kit 003.jpg (121329 bytes) wing kit 005.jpg (84615 bytes) wing kit 007.jpg (77923 bytes)
            wing kit 008.jpg (93715 bytes) wing kit 006.jpg (87562 bytes)
Progress is continuing at a blistering pace (in geologic terms ) 
Seat bases, rudder pedals are tacked in place, elevator  & control systems are in place. All pivots have been done with bearings-I need to shorten sticks, & all hardware shown is temporary (will be AN in final)-I doglegged the aileron drag link to eliminate any ball joint binding - Now I can get some stick time!!!		 build 018.jpg (99717 bytes) build 019.jpg (83549 bytes) build 020.jpg (101550 bytes) build 021.jpg (90787 bytes) build 022.jpg (62686 bytes) build 023.jpg (66986 bytes) build 024.jpg (90744 bytes) build 025.jpg (72616 bytes) 
Found front cockpit extremely tight- I am moving aft cross member below spar forward to give more knee room - especially entering & exiting.  build1 001.jpg (86017 bytes) build2 002.jpg (79059 bytes)
12-31-2008 - Fuse & Tail Kit arrived!! Blast & prime - Start mockup of seating - Start layout of controls  build1 008.jpg (93381 bytes)
11-20-2008 - Fab & weld Controls/ Rudder Pedals- Changed rear bushing to split roller bearing & put KP6 front bearing in clamp block instead of inside torque tube. All idler arms and stick pivots will be in bearings. Front cockpit gets no brakes.  build1 007.jpg (265074 bytes) build1 004.jpg (80874 bytes) build1 005.jpg (67661 bytes)
7-27-2008 - Lycoming IO-540C4B - All I need is a plane, and a prop, and some avionics, and some paint and.......