REFLECTOR: Leveling the plane

[Terrence Miles]

It's not a stunt really.  I am learning to think in three dimensions 
simultaneously as I build this thing.  When I started, I thought in three 
dimensions, but only one at a time.  Do you have access to cabin face of 
your firewall?

>From: Jim Sower <canarder at frontiernet.net>
>Reply-To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Leveling the plane
>Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2005 23:32:09 -0500
>
>Terry,
>I've heard of the firewall stunt.  My firewall doesn't have a smooth 
>surface what with all the fireproofing goop spread all over it, but I'll 
>check if there's anything like a reasonable average.  How about the 
>"flange" that the cowl fastens to?  I'm pretty sure that it's BID tape 
>stuck on after the cowl is cut off and therefore unreliable.  Perhaps I can 
>figure out a way to put precise shims on the inside of the cowl so the 
>level can straddle the spar (provided there's no goop there).
>I'll check that out ... Jim S.
>
>Terry Miles wrote:
>
>>Jim,
>>In the belief that the firewall is 90 degrees to level, then use your
>>firewall and a digital level...shim the nose until you get 90 degrees to
>>read on the level held up& down against the firewall. That incidence
>>(sp?) wing jig does look goofy, but it works as a eye ball if that's all
>>you have to go on.  Big thing, I believe, is to invest in a digital
>>level for considerably more precise readings.
>>Terry
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>>Behalf Of Jim Sower
>>Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 3:24 PM
>>To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>>Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Leveling the plane
>>
>>
>>That sounds like what I need to do.  Problem is I have a "bought" plane 
>>with no references.that I can find.  Is there a place on the belly that is 
>>parallel to the reference plane, or anything like that?  The guy I bought 
>>it from told me to use the wing leveling jig to level the plane, but it's 
>>a piece of plywood that doesn't fit all that well and has a dime store 
>>level glued to it.  I'd like some way to level it for real and then drill 
>>the holes like Joe did.
>>Been at a loss how to level this beast for the longest time ... Jim S.
>>
>>
>>
>>><>
>>>Joe Ewen wrote:
>>>Scott,
>>>Once I had my fuselage level in pitch, I put in permanent references
>>>for future use. Once the lower cowl is cut away its hard to reestablish 
>>>pitch level. I made my reference points by drilling 1/4 holes in the 
>>>fuselage side approximately 6" under the strake and 3' apart. I then 
>>>filled the holes with micro, after cure the center of the filled holes 
>>>was drilled with a 1/8 bit (level to each other.) Now
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>when I want to put the fuselage in pitch level, I insert 1/8" bits into 
>>>the holes (shank into hole) and rest a
>>>4 foot level across the bits.
>>>
>>>For roll level I use a theodolite (a transit would work) and measure down 
>>>to the top of wing bolts inserted into the upper outboard bushings in the 
>>>spare. Can read down to 0.005" from the horizontal plane. Water tubes 
>>>work pretty well but do not have as good an accuracy level.
>>>
>>>Joe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
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