Update from Hale’s Landing, Fuselage Jig and Elevator Trim Wheel

Source: 2004 Q1 Beartracks, Dan Riffee
Bob & Mike, enclosed are a few pictures you might want to use for the newsletter. As you know I built a steel jig for the Bearhawk, since there are so many local Bearhawk builders: Dallas Shell- #600, Robert Evans- #418, Dan Riffee- #267, Ray Hollan- #686, David Trevisol- #255.
dallasYou’ll notice one photo of Dallas doing some hangar flying (some people just can’t wait). I’m sending you a drawing of how we made the trim wheel mount so it can be removed if ever needed. Also how I got clearance between the flap cable and the the landing gear shock strut brackets.
dallasstandAt the present time the first fuselage is out of the jig and on its wheels and the bottom on the second fuselage is finished in the jig and on its way to completion.


trimwheel

Chinese 4130 Steel Tubing

If you have purchased any 4130 seamless tubing or plate lately you will notice that a lot of it is now being made in China! What is left of the US manufactured stuff is quickly being used up. The one plant in the US that was making 4130 has severely cut back production. It is not known at this time if any other US plants will pick up the production.

We have tested the Chinese tubing and some of the plate and it does meet the 4130 requirements. You do have to be sure when bending the plate that the edges are polished or you will experience cracking in the bend on the outside edges.