Oshkosh Aircraft Builders Club

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New Server
Posted by admin - 6/30/2005 5:27:45 PM E.T.

Some of you may have noticed the OABC site being offline recently. We just moved web servers but should be back in full swing now.

Feel free to let us know if anything is not functioning correctly!

HACKED BY TheZerO

HACKED BY ThezerO

It's AirVenture Oshkosh Time!
Posted by gdeimer - 7/24/04 12:07:25 PM E.T.

Visit our display in the EAA AirVenture Museum during this year's AirVenture Oshkosh, July 27 - August 2.

Both un-skinned wings and the fuselage are on display in our workshop area within the Cessna Restoration Shop.

The Sonex Project Becomes More of a Living Exhibit
Posted by gdeimer - 2/12/04 7:21:45 PM E.T.

As the AirVenture museum reconfigures the Cessna Restoration Shop, we have been invited to display the Sonex project to be a part of a living exhibit, building a homebuilt, the Sonex, as part of a new display.

So, watch for us as we set up the project in its new location! We build on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and maybe a weekend session or two "on display" for our valued EAA members and AirVenture Museum visitors!

Whoa...the previous is an old post...
Posted by gdeimer - 2/9/04 6:50:31 PM E.T.

We're glad everyone had a good holiday, but no need to keep it up there for this long!?

Still working and grinding away on the plane, so not much progress to currently report on.

Happy Holidays!
Posted by gdeimer - 12/20/03 3:22:56 PM E.T.

Once again the members of the OABC wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy 100 Years!
Posted by gdeimer - 12/16/03 6:11:57 PM E.T.

We soon will celebrate the centennial of powered flight and the members of the OABC wanted note this momentious occasion!

Hopefully it won't take another hundred years to get our project completed... ;-)

Rivet Rivet Rivet
Posted by gdeimer - 11/15/03 12:05:49 PM E.T.

Last Thursday we reiveted a mass of parts together. The bathtub portion of the cockpit is now mostly riveted. Next we'll finish up the rear of the spar box section, and then we'll be back to fabricating parts.

Attention Members!
Posted by gdeimer - 10/21/03 10:31:25 AM E.T.

Now that we're all moved into the Cessna Technical Center, we'll be starting to work on the airplane again every Tuesday and Thursday.

Hope you'll be able to join us for one of these days!

It's Winter Again...
Posted by gdeimer - 10/17/03 9:56:37 AM E.T.

and yesterday we officially moved out of the Pioneer Airport facilities and back into the Cessna Technical Center located within the AirVenture Museum.

Although depressing to see more confirmation of winter coming, we're happy to be back working in the pristine (and WARM) conditions.

Back At It!
Posted by gdeimer - 8/10/03 1:26:50 PM E.T.

We're back working on the Sonex after a very successful AirVenture! Look for forthcoming photos soon...

Work on the Airplane is On Hold...
Posted by gdeimer - 7/25/03 9:51:56 AM E.T.

...until EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2003 is over. Most of the club members are full in gear preparing for EAA's annual event. So of course, the airplane gets put on the back burner. Be sure we'll be out working again right after Oshkosh is over!

What's been going on?
Posted by gdeimer - 6/27/03 9:08:45 AM E.T.

Not too much to currently report on.

Over the last few building sessions we've continued to work on the cockpit tub. The spar box is now in place and much "updrilling" of the rivet holes is being completed.

We Now Have a Bathtub
Posted by gdeimer - 5/29/03 11:28:23 PM E.T.

On Thursday (May 29), members Joe, Charlie, Ken and Gregg finished lining up the cockpit "tub". The firewall has been added to the forward of the cockpit. Most of the rivet holes have been drilled and cleco'd together to form the center section.

It's nice to see major progress continue as the airplane structure grows!

Building Time Updated
Posted by gdeimer - 5/29/03 11:20:46 PM E.T.

For those members who are keeping track, the latest hours have been transferred into the building time log.

Check out to see where you stand!

Gallery 4 Posted/Cockpit Takes Shape
Posted by admin - 5/26/03 10:54:44 PM E.T.

It's small, but Gallery 4 has been added to the site.

As you can see, Joe takes the Sonex on its maiden flight! The cockpit is starting to take shape, as the side panels and floorboard are now cleco'd into place. After months of making small parts, it's nice to see the airframe grow by about 33%!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend
Posted by admin - 5/23/03 6:03:11 PM E.T.

The members of the Oshkosh Aircraft Builders Club hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend.

Fly Safe!

We're Back at Pioneer
Posted by gdeimer - 5/23/03 11:43:59 AM E.T.

After spending the winter in the Cessna Technical Center located within the AirVenture Museum, we are back building at Pioneer Airport. Hopefully the warmer weather will cultivate faster progress on the plane!

Recent photos of the workspace and fuselage progress to come...

Belated Welcome to Two New OABC Members
Posted by gdeimer - 5/16/03 6:13:15 PM E.T.

The OABC welcomes Mike DiFrisco and Zack Baughman to the club. We're definitely happy to see more interest as the airplane takes shape.

At least you'll soon really learn what deburring means!

Fuselage Sides Progressing!
Posted by jnorris - 5/2/03 12:04:11 PM E.T.

Last night (May 1st) four builders worked on the forward fuselage sides. The right side is assembled and riveted, and the left side is just about ready for riveting. We just have to make sure “Ronnie the Riveter” doesn’t get carried away on the left side like he did on the right side!

Adam Smith Logs More Time
Posted by gdeimer - 3/12/03 1:00:45 AM E.T.

Congratulations to member Adam Smith, who was able to gain another 0.1 hour of building time on the Sonex.

When reached for comment, Smith said "Hey, it counts..."

Check out how everyone else is doing in our member's building log.

Progress continues...slowly
Posted by gdeimer - 3/6/03 12:36:34 AM E.T.

We apologize for the recent lack of updates to the site (not much has been going on!?).

Progress continues as we move forward of the tail cone. An abundance of miscellaneous parts are being created as we slowly form the pieces of the cockpit...the side skins of the cockpit are currently being worked on.

Happy Holidays!
Posted by admin - 12/25/02 12:28:25 PM E.T.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the members of the Oshkosh Aircraft Builders Club!

Current Status Advances
Posted by gdeimer - 12/14/02 3:50:26 PM E.T.

Final riveting on the turtledeck of the tailcone was recently finished! Except for the horizontal stabilizer, we have completed the tailcone of the airplane.

Last session we moved forward to start the pieces of the cockpit, etc.

Aviation Skills?
Posted by gdeimer - 11/14/02 10:23:37 PM E.T.

Are some of these members really qualified to work on airplanes?

An Airplane is Starting to Take Shape
Posted by admin - 11/12/02 1:20:00 AM E.T.

Progress continues on the tailcone portion of the fuselage. The turtledeck has started to form. Next step is to set up the bulkheads of the turtledeck.

Members are encouraged to come help out as more of our airplane is starting to take shape!

Gallery 3 Posted
Posted by admin - 11/12/02 1:10:18 AM E.T.

As promised, photos of our new workspace are now posted in Gallery 3! For those who haven't seen it, check it out...along with the latest building status photos.

Move Successful!
Posted by gdeimer - 10/24/02 1:09:49 AM E.T.

On Tuesday we successfully moved the project from Pioneer II to the Cessna technical center (a.k.a. building lab) in the AirVenture museum. That means heat and good light!

Photos of our new workspace to come...

Tail Cone Riveting
Posted by gdeimer - 10/18/02 1:37:51 AM E.T.

The tail cone "box" has been aligned, drilled, and deburred. After putting it together, taking it apart, and putting it back together repeatedly, we are finally set to rivet the box together. This effectively creates our largest part to date...it feels like we're accomplishing something! There wasn't enough time tonight, so next building session we should be able to rivet it all up.

Next time we are also moving the project out of Pioneer airport due to the closing of this year's flying season. Onto the building classroom in the EAA museum, which will be a lot warmer to build in this winter.

More updates to come once we get it over there...

The First Completed Assemblies
Posted by gdeimer - 10/3/02 1:23:20 AM E.T.

After months of sanding and creating parts, we are starting to complete assemblies to the aircraft.

Recently updated - the club has now completed the elevator, rudder, and vertical stabilizer. Work is continuing on the tail cone which will hopefully incorporate the above completed items.

The OABC has a website!
Posted by admin - 9/25/02 11:56:34 PM E.T.

Welcome to the new website of the Oshkosh Aircraft Builders Club. **FINALLY**

Stay tuned for latest info, updates, progress reports, and photos of how the club is coming along with the building of a Sonex.

Feel free to let me know if you find any bugs in the site here.

Enjoy!

Building has begun
Posted by admin - 5/21/02 11:53:44 PM E.T.

Tonight the group started on the Sonex kit. Started with lots of deburring and pounding out wing ribs.

Kit picked up!
Posted by admin - 5/15/02 11:50:03 PM E.T.

We're ready to get rolling on this project. We picked up the kit tonight and sorted the miscellaneous items. First building night will be next Tuesday.