Ran into one developing problem on my annual.  The cracks in the elevator.  So rather than look at this as a problem, I’m looking at it as an opportunity to correct some minor mistakes that were made when installing the elevators.  I’m also going to install an electric trim system in the elevator rather than the current manual system.  This will be far lighter and more controllable.   I ordered the parts today so they should be in sometime next week.  In the mean time I’m going to repair the current cracks with JB Weld.  Yes, they’ve already been stop-drilled.

If you’re in aviation then you already know that all aircraft must undergo an annual inspection by an FAA-certified mechanic.  One of the joys of owning an aircraft you built yourself is that YOU are the mechanic for that airplane.  You may do all the work on it like an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, and you may also authorize it for return to service, like an Inspection and Authorization mechanic.  Now I know that airframe inside and out, I drove every (well almost) rivet into that airplane.  What I don’t know much about is the engine.  That’s why I’m excited that a gentleman from my church is coming out to help me.  Dan is a mechanic for the Post Office and is really looking forward to getting to learn about aircraft engines.  They are not much more than glorified Volkswagon engines so Dan probably has an easy chore ahead of him.  I’m looking foward to having someone with a mechanic’s eye look the engine over.  I’m also looking forward to getting to know Dan better.  The more Godly men in my life the better.