Chapter 17 Project Page.

Chapter 17 members share their projects and airplanes through the marvel of photography.

Here is Will Ouellette's story:

"My Sonex project started in January, 2006.
I have completed the fuselage, empennage and wings. The motor has been
assembled and mounted and the cooling baffling has been fitted. Next  up is to wire the aircraft and install instruments. After that, I'll attach  the windshield and canopy (no mean task), fire it up and see what happens!
Will Ouellette
 

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Update: December 2007:
I'll be damned - it flies!
The ½ flap takeoff and departure were as advertised by Sonex. Climbed out at 85mph to altitude.
Began a slow left turn to keep the airpark within gliding distance. TYS approach control gave us up to 10K for our air work. Started to fly the airplane with a series of left/right turns, checking out the flight controls. VERY RESPONSIVE!! Flies like a fighter with e bad attitude.
The motor started to run hot on the #1 and #4 cylinders so I had to reduce power to keep the temps in the green. This prevented flight about 3000' (wanted to go to 6000', but not today). So I proceeded into some stalls to get a feel for landing speeds. Did a no flap, 1/2 flap and full flap stall series. No flaps stalled around 48mph, 1/2 flaps around 45 mph and full flaps about 42-43mph. Since the motor kept running hot, decided to get back in the pattern so we descended to a wide, high downwind at the airpark. Shot two approaches to low approaches (watch out for that oak tree of the north end on the runway!) and then climbed to downwind at about 75 mph.
Turned base after putting down 1/2 flaps, slowed to 70 mph and turned final. Continued slowing to 65 mph and pulled the throttle off over the non-existent overrun. Slowed to 50-55mph in the flare, touched down softly (no bounce) and aero-braked before using hand brakes. Mission accomplished!!
What a hoot the flight was - no surprises, no scares, just a hot motor. Radios worked good and even the brakes seemed to be up-to-the-job. Ground observers reported some black exhaust smoke on takeoffs so the motor is still running rich. Need to tweak the mixture screw in another notch of lean and try again. Taxiing back, the "crowd" did the wave and popped the champagne.
Many thanks to John Davis as mentor, supporter, builder, critic, Pundit and chaser during the entire Sonex process - couldn't have done it without him. Thanks also to Robert Ely for his help with the build, especially the AeroVee. Thanks also to Robert for letting me get some fam rides in his Sonex and for lending me his airplane for my BFR - what a guy!
And, of course, kudos to Frank Beeler, the EAA Tech Advisor who continually kept checking my construction progress and making sure the parts all fit together as intended.
So what's next? Get the motor cooled down and nail down the stall numbers. Then another 39 hours on flight testing between Montvale and Crossville airports.
See all of Will's photos here.

Before	After
Rivet in the spars!
	Wing Ribs
Plan Ahea d
	Assembled Horizontal Stabilizer
Sonex Fuselage
	Tail Feathers
Duckworks and light
	Clecoed Turtledeck
The "Golden Rivet" is popped!"	Taxi for Takeoff!
	The first climb out
Brook Wolfe, C17 member from Tellico Village,  has taken delivery on a Velocity XLRG kit. For more on the Velocity visit their web site
With PS Engineering PMA6000 Audio Panel!	Velocity XL The Velocity XL has the largest cabin of all 4 seat kit aircraft. With 47.5" shoulder to shoulder, the XL is, in fact, larger than most general aviation aircraft – including most twins. With recommended engine capacity of 260 to 310 HP, expect a cruise speed of 200 knots (230 mph)... from what must be one of the world's most spacious and practical single engine aircraft! The "XL" stands for Xtra Large...and this plane is extra wide by 5.5" and extra long by 10". In addition, the pilot/co-pilot height is increased by 1" and the rear seat height increased by 2". Extra fuel (up to 93 gal) to feed an extra large engine – 260 and 310 horse power. The Velocity XL is the flagship of the Velocity line of fine airplanes.