With operation of BaP2 X'Air Hawk G-SPDY continuing for another year, preparatory work has now started on our next BaP project, this time a Zenair STOL CH701 (example right).
This project, with Jim Gale's assistance, was being headed up by Alec Janaway (see RIP note below), based at his workshop in Whimple, east of Exeter. Construction of the 701 is a different proposition from the assembly of the BaP2 kit; this one requiring fundamental construction and finishing ( trimming, cleaning, drilling, riveting and spraying) of the aluminium provided in the kit. Fortunately, many of the components come pre-formed and the kit is supported by a comprehensive construction manual, a high resolution CD-ROM and high definition CAD drawings.
The youth groups involved this time include air cadets and scouts from Beer and Honiton, with the intention to run a rota of build sessions on Saturday mornings and on two evenings each week.
Assistance from other Strut members is being recruited and has already been offered by brothers Andy and Steve Williams who fly a Rans S6 from Dunkeswell but who are also qualified engineers working for FlyBe at Exeter Airport. The project inspector will be Dave Silsbury and the LAA is giving the project it's full backing.
As with BaP2, Tim Gilmour-White is contributing a substantial part of the project funding, although more donations and loans are being urgently sought. We are also looking for sponsors for ancillary equipment - instruments, avionics, headsets etc., all of which will be listed on the aircraft as a living advert.
More information can be found on the Zenith kit manufacturer's website http://www.zenithair.com/ and about the CH701 in particular on http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/index1.html
The drawings that support the kit can be viewed or downloaded to help to understand the construction process from http://www.zenithair.com/stolch701/7drawings.html
May 2011 - G-OBAP's build is at last proceeding, the kit having arrived in mid April.
There were lots of shiny, part-drilled and shaped pieces of aluminium to unpack, much to the delight of the youngsters who were amazed at the amount and complexity of the Zenair CH701 kit of parts.
There is now much marking out taking place, ready for drilling, de-burring and cleaning. Then corrosion inhibition before the first rivet goes in.
By the time of Aero Expo (17-19th June at Sywell) comes around, the tail feathers should be recognisable and we hope to be displaying the youngster's work in the LAA marquee. About 15 Scouts will be camping at Sywell over the weekend, creating a display to illustrate the work entailed on further parts of the aircraft and shaking buckets around the show as we urgently need more funding. There will also be a couple of PR events with sponsors Zenair UK and Airbox lining up the display for a photographic opportunity. It should be a good week-end; we hope to see you there. If you are there, then please take out your loose change, fold it carefully and put in the buckets! Cheers, Alec, Jim and the Team.
Devon Youth Build-a-Plane 3 - Zenair STOL CH 701
The BaP3 team attended Aero Expo 17-19th June 2011 with a display of the project so far, including the completed fin, the undercarriage work and the skeleton framework of the tailplane. The 1st Sidvale Scouts came up to Sywell for the week-end and were soon answering questions from the many visitors to the LAA marquee. Not only did they have a busy time doing that, but they also took to shaking collection buckets and raised in the region of £150 towards the project, which was a great effort.
However, the highlight of the weekend was a presentation of an Aware 5 Plus GPS by sponsors Airbox (see photo – left to right: Scouts from 1st Sidvale, Alex Morton, Jamie Milner, Kath Morton, Ollie Stone and Ben Tilley receive an Aware 5 Plus GPS from sponsors Airbox). This is the third time that Airbox have supported BaP projects and the Scouts were very appreciative of Airbox's continued support.
Stewart Luck managed to fly in on the Friday to display BaP1 but sadly BaP2 remained in the hangar at Dunkeswell due to the rotten weather in the southwest. SPDY also missed the LAA Party in the Park at Old Warden because of this. Trailer next time!
Now we are back home for a few weeks, working hard on completing the whole empennage before we are off again to RIAT at Fairford 16th -17th July and then Branscombe on 24th July, where we again will be displaying the project and the Scouts will be taking the public's carefully folded loose change! To those members who have already supported us financially, thank you very much, and to those who would like to be involved in this worthwhile project, please contact us at jmgale@btinternet.com
Sadly, Alec Janaway died on Tuesday 11th October 2011 following a short battle with cancer.
However, the project is continuing, under Jim Gale's guidance and with the blessing of Alec's wife Christine, we will have exclusive use
of Alec's workshop to complete the aircraft.
Youth Build-a-Plane 3 Crew Exhibit at The Flying Show, NEC, Birmingham, 26th -27th November 2011.
Devon Strut members and Scouts from 1st Sidvale spent the weekend of 26th and 27th November at the NEC Flying Show on the LAA YES
area of the exhibition stand, displaying their part-built Zenair CH701 Stol aircraft, together with pupils and teachers from Ercall Wood Technology
College, Telford who showed a part of their Rans S6 aircraft being built under the auspices of the Boeing/RAeS Schools Build a Plane project.
Great interest was shown in both ventures and six exhibitors offered to support the undertakings
with discounted supplies and services. In particular, on Sunday, the Sidvale Scouts were presented
with a flight-bag from POOLEYS with navigational goodies and guides worth over £200. The photo (right)
shows the Scouts with the flight-bag and its contents presented by Pooley’s Commercial Director James
Bailey.
Also, following publication of the new YES magazine Flightstore MD, Andrew Holdsworth, contributed
£100 to the LAAET fund, for which the Scouts thanked him profusely.
The Sidvale Scouts are now working on a fund raising scheme to purchase a Rotax 912 engine for the
project, so if you would like to support this worthwhile youth initiative, please contact
jmgale@btinternet.com.
Not only are we looking to raise funds, but we are also on the lookout for LAA builders/enthusiasts to help
out during the evening sessions at the workshop in Whimple. If you feel that you could spare the time for
one or two evenings a week to help guide the youngsters through the build stage and, in due course,
getting involved in the flying of the 701, then again please contact Jim at the above email address or
07887-906789.
Preparing the lower fuselage skin for the tail bulkheads and lower longerons. Deburring one of the tail bulkheads.
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