ULPower 350i it is

And there it is, the ULPower UL350i. Just ordered straight from Belgium. I could write a really long list of all the benefits of ULPower vs VW conversion (more HP, factory built, FADEC, super high quality etc etc), but the truth is I failed to obtain the needed trust in the Aerovee to use it in an aircraft that needs the engine running to fly.

The engine comes with everything needed. Engine mount is ordered from Kaolin in the USA. There will be some glass fiber work on the cowling, but I just have to accept that as a part of the equation. Really looking forward to mount this on the nose :-)

The Aerovee? The engine will probably work just fine, but the resell value is zero. Maybe a Xenos later on? I always wanted a motorglider. But not right now. Pri 1 is to get this Onex flying :-)

Elevator max down stop

Made a bracket so the max down becomes correct. Still need some fine adjustment to get -20 degrees. The idea is that it will push against the main spar (as it should). I thought about bolting the bracket to the fuselage, but that would only carry the forces to the bolts and not to the main spar. The main spar is also bolted to the fuselage, so it wouldn't really make a difference. Maybe I will put some small bolts in there, I have to think about it.

Elevator max travel stop

Lots of adjusting to get the elevator max travel correct. 25 degree up and 20 degree down. It does not travel up enough and way too much down. Need to make a separate bracket to stop it when going down.

Visited the Sonexaircraft site. Must be a long time since I have been there because they now have the ULPower engine also as an alternative for the Onex.

Elevator pushrod

Got the reamer and fixed the pushrod so the bushing fit. But still lots of adjusting to do to make it go the full travel 20 degree down and 25 degree up, and stop at those points.

Elevator pushrod

No problems getting the long elevator pushrod in. But the bronse bushing needs to fit exactly, and to do that I need a reamer. I hope the lab has the right size (9-10 mm).

Rudder wires and elevator pushrod

Made some brackets to get the wires further out and away from the structure. Filed the bronze bushings down to prevent the wire to get hung upon top of the rollers (and between the brackets). Replaced some of the rivets for the rackets with M4 machine screws. All in all, lots of adjustments to make the wires run freely and preventing them from jumping out between the roller and brackets.

Tried to trial fit the elevator push rod, but the vertical fin needs to be removed first. Glad I have made it removable. Still, not entirely sure how to get it in there due to the small dimensions of my small shop.