Hi all,
Well, I've been trying to keep it under wraps until it's home so as to not jinx the whole thing but it's out that I'm bringing home another project airplane this week. It's a late 70's vintage Decathlon and, while it's technically an airplane, it's more accurate to describe it as a pile of parts formerly known as a Decathlon.
In taking ownership of the pile of said parts I'm posed with the dilemma of what to do with it. In the parts are all of the items needed except spars to remake a set of wings as they would have come from the factory in the 70's. In the parts are most of the items necessary to hang a 150hp IO-320 on the nose. But is that what I want to do?
It's interesting to note that the factory makes available all of the current Super Decathlon features for retrofit to original vintage airframes. My plan is to drop off the frame at the factory on Friday so it can be placed into the jigs and checked for straightness and structural integrity. While it's there they can make whatever upgrades I ask for but again, what's the right answer?
So I'm asking for your opinions, I've got a few ideas, but I want to hear what you guys have to say.
I'm leaning towards building it with the IO-320 but doing upgrades to the gear, the wings (current design metal spars with HP ailerons), and to the panel along with an updated/new interior when the time comes. The -320 can always be yanked in favor of more power later on when time/money allows.
What would you do? What do you think I should do? Thanks in advance!
Well, I've been trying to keep it under wraps until it's home so as to not jinx the whole thing but it's out that I'm bringing home another project airplane this week. It's a late 70's vintage Decathlon and, while it's technically an airplane, it's more accurate to describe it as a pile of parts formerly known as a Decathlon.
In taking ownership of the pile of said parts I'm posed with the dilemma of what to do with it. In the parts are all of the items needed except spars to remake a set of wings as they would have come from the factory in the 70's. In the parts are most of the items necessary to hang a 150hp IO-320 on the nose. But is that what I want to do?
It's interesting to note that the factory makes available all of the current Super Decathlon features for retrofit to original vintage airframes. My plan is to drop off the frame at the factory on Friday so it can be placed into the jigs and checked for straightness and structural integrity. While it's there they can make whatever upgrades I ask for but again, what's the right answer?
So I'm asking for your opinions, I've got a few ideas, but I want to hear what you guys have to say.
I'm leaning towards building it with the IO-320 but doing upgrades to the gear, the wings (current design metal spars with HP ailerons), and to the panel along with an updated/new interior when the time comes. The -320 can always be yanked in favor of more power later on when time/money allows.
What would you do? What do you think I should do? Thanks in advance!