There's a light at the end of this tunnel...

 ...because CMA is almost done!  We have been putting some of the finishing touches on CMA this past week or so.  It's been really nice to get some of the final double inspections done with and get things closed up.  Right now, we're waiting for some inspector's from the KCAA as well as some other things.  Within the next week, we hope to finish closing up the aircraft and get it weighed.  Then we're ready to run!  Then a test flight!  Oh, it's getting closer!  Meanwhile, enjoy some pictures...

 Pete and Marko discussing some things about the aileron rigging. 

 Pete really did have his hands all the way in CMA!  

 Another one of Pete, this time installing the battery and battery box.  

 John getting the floor panels together and installing them in the plane.  We put anti-skid down on the floor to help things not slide around so much.  That's what the black stuff is. 

 Pete and myself.  I was getting some of the interior installed while Pete was working on the battery. 

 Here's Caleb getting the wing strut fairings installed.  They required a bit of..."persuasion."  :)  That just means that they weren't exactly fitted well before painting.  Turns out a few new nutplates in the right place = fits just right!

  One of the last things we do is check the toe and camber adjustment.  This ensures that the airplane tires will wear correctly when the airplane is fully loaded.  Also, to be sure there isn't any undue strain on the wheels and axles.  Here Caleb is checking the measurements to see if there needs to be any shimming. 

 Guess there needed some shimming!  You change shims located between the axle and the gear leg to achieve the proper toe and camber.  

 We also unwrapped the new windshield for the first time yesterday.  Here's Tim starting on the right side. 

And Caleb finishing on the left side.  Wow, it's clear!  It's exciting, that means that we're close to having to see out the windshield!

Taking the next steps with 5Y-CMA

 This past week provided us some more solid time spent with 5Y-CMA.  We really got some good work done, and some good double inspections have been occurring as well.  Double (and triple) inspections are always a good thing, as it gives another person a chance to look things over, things that you have been staring at or working with for who knows how long.  It's easier for them to spot any problems since they're just now coming to the airplane, or to the specific item.  Anyways, we finished our fuel system inspection, so we took the plane out to fill 'er up!  While out there doing fueling, we got some other things done as well.  Enjoy the pictures!

 At the front of the hangar to do fueling.  This is part of our safety program: no fueling or de-fueling inside the hangar.  It was also nice to get out and get some fresh air and sunshine! 

 The main project that day was calibrating the JPI EDM-930 fuel quantity system.  Caleb made out a nice chart for the test...

 ...and then we went to it.  Here I am looking like a true supervisor watching my friend do all the work.  HA!  We put in 10 gallons of fuel in each tank at a time so we could calibrate the 930 with the OEM fuel quantity transmitters.  It took a while, but we got it done.  However, we did find a few small fuel leaks along the way.  Ah, well, nothing we can't fix relatively quickly!  Better to find them now then find them later. 

 In the mean time, Pete was in the back of the plane installing interior...well, that was when we let him in the plane.  Have to be still to measure it out right! 

 He has this look of disgust almost...'you mean I have to get out again?'

 'Are you kidding me?  AGAIN?'  Despite having to get in and out, in and out, in and out, Pete has done a nice job getting the interior installed so far. 

So now the airplane is sitting here in the hangar...out of the paint booth!  We had to move over to the C210 for a few days, so she's by herself again.  But she's looking better and better.  You know you're getting closer, when pilots start coming down and you can see the drool in the corner of their mouths. :) 

Propeller Installation on CMA

 Last week we got the prop installed on CMA, along with some other things.  It has been a very productive couple weeks on the airplane, as there wasn't much else going on in the shop. Things have been moving along with the progress, which is good.  The airplane needs to fly soon! 

 Caleb prepping for the prop installation. 

 All cleaned and ready to go!

 Caleb and myself installing the prop. 

 Torque it up, and she's ready to go!  Well...not ready to go, but getting closer!

 John and Adamson cleaning up some of the mess on the firewall. 

 With a new engine comes new baffle seals...which, in this case, rub the cowlings a bit different than the old baffle seals.  So in this picture, I am making sure the baffle seals are fitting snugly all the way around the engine and cowling.  It's a good think I have long arms...I can just reach to the rear baffle seal.  

Our illustrious AIM Air general manager Dale showing John how to polish the spinner with your fleece. 

The work moves onward...

 While things have been relatively "slow" in the rest of the shop, we have been plugging away at CMA.  We've been working on all sorts of things.  Flap rigging, rudder rigging, interior, instruments/instrument panels, placards.  We're getting so close to doing to system checks, it's good to see it all coming together well.  Keep checking back in as we keep working through it to finalize this project 206...

 Here I am working with some of the new plastic interior pieces getting them fitted just right.  Shout out to City Compressor for the cool t-shirt. 

 Joseph fitted the new plastic panels for the three doors. 

 Goof-off.

 Gregg has been helping with the flap follow-up rigging.  It's been a bit of a challenge for the guys, but he finally figured it out.  Nice job, guys! 

 Shot from the back of the hangar where CMA currently is.  It will be good to get her out of there and onto the flight line. 

 Instruments!  It sorta looks like a weird little city of black buildings...

 We had the instruments installed, but had to remove them and install the panel by itself.  Gregg is taking the instruments out of the panel in this photo. 

Alright...here's the last photo for this set...can you find me?!

Nose cowls...

 ...are finally finished!  We have been working on the nose cowlings for CMA.  The old ones were just really bad off...fiberglass coming apart, screw holes all wallered out, that sort of thing.  We had a set in our inventory, but they required some "modifications."  My co-worker Jose did most of the work getting them fitted properly so that they would match the main engine cowls.  It took a lot of time and some trial and error, but they came out looking pretty good!  We painted them, along with the rest of the blue stripes on the nose section, and they are ready to go. 

 Pre-paint.  Pretty much everywhere you see white, that's where Jose had to "modify."

 Lookin' good with that tuned induction IO-550-N.  Check out those exhaust pipes, too, courtesy of Leading Edge Exhaust Systems. 

 AIM Air short termer Gregg, checking out the preparation job for painting. 

 The airplane looks like it's taking a nap with all those blankets.  All that for a few little blue stripes. 

 Cowlings taped off for the first set of stripes. 

 Marko busy getting things sorted out with the cowlings.  You know, painting preparation takes like 90% of the work, and the actual spraying takes about 10%.  Better to focus on good preparation, which brings good results. 

 Introducing...

Magneto Man!!  I know this doesn't have anything to do with cowlings, but Pete has been slaving away doing magneto overhaul after magneto overhaul after magneto overhaul for us.  He's done a great job!  Thanks, Pete!

Things that help you fly...

 ...like flight controls!  We have installed the flight controls on 5Y-CMA and have succeeded through most of the rigging of those flight controls so far, still working on a couple systems.  It has been a busy month or so, forgive me for the lack of blogging.  We have been working hard on a variety of projects in the shop, and are really now getting to really push on CMA.  It's getting closer to being finished!  Please enjoy the photos...

 Sometimes it takes more hands to get something installed. 

 Which usually results in one person doing the work while others are watching!  From left to right: Joe (short term from LETU, John (attachee), and Tavasi. 

 Joe working on getting some hardware installed correctly.  Joe was only with us for about 10 days, but it was a pleasure to have him around. 

 Had to do some re-touches on paint...

 Where the plane sits now...in the back of the hangar...but not for long!

 Well, at least the flaps go up and down again! 

 Timothy working on getting things sorted out in the ceiling area. 

Timothy getting some input from Paul on flap rigging. 

DC-3 in Colombia

Check out this link below to a video about some DC-3 flying in Colombia, South America.  It has some great shots of DC-3s in the air and on the ground.

The Daredevil Pilots of Colombia