Another productive weekend behind us and another one coming up. We had a successful startup of the VW Revmaster engine on Saturday and a weight and balance check on Sunday. We were even lucky enough to have some Young Eagles show up again. I’ve gone ahead and made a logbook so we can start to keep track of all the hands that have had a chance to work on this project, so next time you’re at the hangar to do some work, please jot your name down. At the end of the day we can also record what we got done which should be fun to look back on when we get this up and flying.
Work sessions this weekend will be held on the usual Saturday and Sunday from 2pm – 5pm at the EAA hangar in Los Alamos. This weekend we are hoping to perfect the engine locator jig and start preparing to remove the Revmaster engine. Next weekend is the Los Alamos Open House, so we’ll be preparing to show off the project as well. If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of please come by and join us. If you need a ride or information on how to get here, please feel free to reach out and we’ll do our best to get any and all hands there to push this project along. Friends and Family welcome.
Here are the upcoming parts of the project. Generally, we’ll be following this list sequentially but follow along as we’ll update as we go.
Finish fixing the fuel leak6/8/25- Build a jig to locate the Revmaster engine position and the Rotax engine
Do a Dragonfly W&B6/15/25- Calculate the fore/aft location of the Rotax to achieve the correct W&B
- Do a layout for the Dragonfly build sessions in the hangar and organize for the build
- Build a 22 foot table
- Remove and hang the Dragonfly wing from the hangar beams
Run the Revmaster, drain the oil, and preserve it6/14/25- Remove the Revmaster and sell it to raise money for the project
- Build the Rotax engine motor mount
- Install the Rotax engine
- Procure and install an engine monitor
- Build the hardware to Install the oil and water coolers
- Build the exhaust system
- Design and build the FF electrical system
- Remove the Canard and repair the fiberglass
- Reinforce the elevator torque tubes
- Finish the canopy
- Build the landing gear strut fairings
- Build the engine cowl (consider modifying an RV-12 cowl)
- Design the panel layout
- Create an electrical schematic for the panel and build a wiring harness
- Install engine monitor, radio, switches and breakers, etc
- Build a 15kw EPS test stand
- Build a wind tunnel
- Form a LLC to own and test fly the Dragonfly
- Visit Chris in Ontario to get a ride in his Dragonfly
- Locate someone to do transition training
- Develop test plan
