Introduction (3)
This project started in November 2000 and was first documented on a family web site. You can see how we started and look at the start of the project here:
http://www.geocities.com/z4t143/ | |
Moving to the Hangar (5)
After four years in the basement and garage, we moved the project to our hangar at Greensfield Airport. | |
Installing the Wings
(5)
A major milestone in any aircraft project is the Wing Installation. We've thought long and hard about this task and whether or not it would all work out. Finally on 26 March 2005, we celebrated our wings being installed! Thanks to Dad Gordy for all the help and problem solving during this important phase! |
Finishing the Flying Surfaces (5)
Once the wings were installed, we focused at completing the fuel and electrical services between the wings and fuselage. Then we worked our way around the airplane and finished all the flying surfaces and control connections. | |
Ready to Fly (5)
After 62 months and over 1800 hrs, N143ZT received its airworthiness certificate on 29 December 2005. | |
General Finishing (4)
For the last year of the project, I would tell people that "We're 90% done ..... with 90% to go!" It seemed like there was always something else to do to get her "finished". This chapter shows a few of those details. | |
Taxi Testing (8)
Following receipt of our airworthiness certificate and in preparation for first flight, we began low speed taxi testing at M71. Following are some shots of that experience.
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First Flight Day 14 Jan 2006 (16)
Today was the day we've been dreaming of for over five years! N143ZT - "Crosswind" took to the air for the first time on Saturday, 14 January 2006. It was beautiful Winter day at Greensfield Airport (M71) with severe clear skies and light winds less than 5 kts. The temperature at flight time was 35 deg F. It was an awesome experience! | |
Last Flight Day 18 Jan 2006 (6)
Today was the day we pilots all anticipate, but are never really ready for.
At 4000 ft and less than 2 miles east of Greensfield (M71) Rwy 27, Crosswind N143ZT lost all fuel pressure and the engine stopped. Although I could see the airport, I was too far to make the runway and had to select a field.
After selecting the field, I tried to start the engine several times, changed fuel tanks, turned on the electric fuel pump, followed all the procedures, but still no fuel pressure, and hence, no fuel to the engine.
Unfortunately, there was a tree row at the edge of the field and power lines above the trees, which I didn't see until it was too late, I chose the trees instead of the power line.
The result was that I walked away without a scratch (a miracle), but Crosswind is ... well see for yourself.
In case you're wondering, there was plenty of fuel still on the plane, the tank vents were clear, and after I collected my thoughts, I tried the fuel pump again on the ground and it produced fuel pressure. Additional investigation will hopefully define what caused the original problem and I'll post those findings here for the benefit of all.
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A New Beginning 28 April 2006 (12)
Today marks a "New Beginning" for our family airplane project that we call "Crosswind". The first set of Quick Build components arrived and Dad Gordy and I went to Zenith Aircraft in Mexico, MO to pick them up. Now it's time to get my builders mind-set back on and start the "repair" process. | |
Persistence: August 2007 (0)
It's been slower going than I'd hoped, but we are still making progress on the repair and rebuild of Crosswind. She WILL fly again!!! At this point, the flying surfaces are all complete and stored waiting for finishing of the cabin area. We're hoping for return to flight later this year. | |
A New Hangar Mate: Crossfire (4)
Just before we went to OSH in 2007, one of our hangar neighbors at M71 began talking about selling his 1964 Mooney M20E. Although we weren't really looking for another plane, the thought of flying again got us to explore the possibility. The trip to OSH turned into a Mooney research project such that when we returned we made and offer and eventually "fell into" owning N1948Y, which we've named "Crossfire". | |
