Jims-Sonex

Build Diary

Vertical Stabiliser

I started on the Vertical Stab is quite on 13 December and had all the parts fabricated by the next day. The Forward Spar Fitting was bent using the ‘three dowel in the bench vice’ trick. However, on Stuart Trist’s advice, I bought some 20mm galvanised pipe from Bunnings, which had an outside diameter of exactly 25mm or 1 inch. You can buy small pieces like the ones shown for about $7.00 each (about US$5.00 each for the American viewers). This stuff won’t compress in the vice and worked out perfectly for the bend job. However, I learnt that unless you tether the two outside pieces together, they will shoot out of the vice when the angle gets closer to what is required. Here’s a photo of Jim’s patented galvanised pipe tethering device.

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Be advised that this site IS NOT an official or approved site of Sonex LLC and is in no way intended to be a publication of Sonex LLC. These pages may contain ideas, opinions, and methods employed by me in the construction of my personal aircraft. They are not necessarily the most desirable method nor are they necessarily endorsed, approved or recommended by Sonex LLC. Many of the ideas and methods which may be discussed in the site represent a compilation of ideas and methods which other builders have used or expressed on other web sites and in separate correspondences. The photos, tips, if any, and methods presented on this site are provided only as this builder’s construction process, for information as a forum for exchange and the sharing of ideas and construction methods. NO responsibility or liability is assumed, expressed, or implied as to the suitability, accuracy, safety, or approval by me or any agency thereof. Any person using any suggestion, idea, method, example or material depicted on these pages, does so at his/her own risk and discretion and without recourse against the site owner or any other person and/or agency noted on this site.