December 6, 2008 - The Big Move

Today was the big day:  moving the fuselage to the airport.

Thursday I looked up the flatbed tow trucks in the local area and ended up going with Doberman Towing.  It was kind of funny.  When I called up and asked about towing, they asked what kind of car.  I said, well, it's an airplane.  "Hold on."  After a few questions -- no wings, it's on wheels,  seven feet wide, sixteen feet long -- the move was set up for Saturday morning.
 
Five people from Doberman showed up, including the owner!  It seems everyone wanted to see this plane at some guys house. 
 
The driver was a real pro.  He took charge of the loading operation.  It was obvious he knew what he was doing so I just QAed everything. 
 
P4
 
P5
 
They hooked straps to the top of the gear legs and the winch cable to the gear straps. 
 
Winching the RV every so slowly up the flatbed. 
 
 
 
 
The tail wanted to come up so I held it down.  I also steered with the tail keeping the RV straight as it went up the incline. 
 
Almost there. 
 
Once the fuse was close to the top, they raised the bed's aft end.   The fuse rolled easily forward after that.
 
Strapping down the main gear. 
 
The tail strapped down.
 
The fuse was solid as a rock after all the straps were in place.
 
 
 
 
On the road, approaching the Francis Scott Key bridge.  It was cold this morning -- 35 degrees or so -- but the winds were light.  Believe it or not, I had checked the weather forecast when I picked today for the move.  Trailering the fuselage over the Key Bridge with strong winds would NOT be a good idea.!
 
 
I followed the trailer in my Dodge minivan, filled with the HS, tools and RV components. 
 
I didn't see any movement in the fuse the entire trip. 
 

Once we got on the final road to the airport, I passed the trailor and moved out in front. 

You'll notice the main canopy is not on the fuse.  In the forums, I read about some poor guy who had not secured his canopy while trailering his fuse to the airport.  The wind got under the canopy, it sailed up in the air and came down on the highway where it shattered in a million pieces.  Thanksfully it didn't come down on another car and cause an accident. 

 
It was a simple matter to winch the fuse off the trailer.  And there is the fuse, in front of my hangar. 
 
All in all, the move was uneventful -- just the way you want it. 
 
The polished aluminum looks good out in the sunlight. 
 
 
Safely nestled inside the hangar,  In a week or two, Bruce and I will have a wing-hanging party.  We'll put the wings on the Cub and the RV on the same day. 
 
 

Now time to start putting everything together.  I started by hanging the horizontal and vertical stabilizers.  I only had time to put the bolts in.  Still have to install washers and nuts. 

Given that it gets dark around 5PM this time of year, I'm going to be limited to the weekends to work on the RV.  I can work on the cowl, gear leg fairings and wheel pants at home during the week. 

Lynnette is happy -- she gets her garage back! 

 
 
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