Just found your channel, will be following. Also in Canada (SK) building a Sonerai 2, at the build table stage right now. Did the same thing, bought my plans from Sonex but picked my tubing up in Ontario when I went there on a trip.
Just found your channel--great stuff! I built one of these back in the early 1990s, but never finished the project. Long story short, I was just finishing graduate school at the time and built the tail feathers, gear legs and then the fuselage. Had it all welded up, ready for the gear fittings to be welded on and then put the gear on the thing...and my training program required too much time away, and I sold the project. I always regretted that. Now that I'm sort of on the other end of the career, I am going to take another whack at it starting this winter. I have a new set of plans, and also have a set of Javron Super Cub wings. I'm an A&P from a previous life, so I have done a LOT of gas welding over the years...and I did use the OA process for that build. Now I also have a Miller TIG machine and want to use that a bit too, and coincidentally just ordered some of the 4130 cut-offs from Spruce. I saw you mention it in another video and chuckled. Anyway, I just subscribed to your channel and will check out all your other videos on this build as well. So far though the two videos I've watched really brought back memories! Love your idea(s) on the table centerline and the tape measure glued in place. Those are great ideas. I also have a Bridgeport mill and a Southbend lathe, but my lathe pales in comparison to what yours looked like. That thing looks huge--although I couldn't really tell exactly what you were running there.
Revisiting these videos now, as I have a new shop (after a move) and am doing some aircraft recovery/restoration. Still toying with the idea of building a "Super-Chub" sort of an aircraft, based upon the 2+2 plans. On the tack- and fully-welded fuselages from Wag Aero: They haven't offered those in years. I live 150 miles or so from them, and have visited them a few times over the last 4-5 years. Their fixtures are sitting around, covered in junk...as they don't have anyone left to build the airframes. I even offered to talk with them about doing it for them, but they don't really seem all that interested in offering the stuff anymore, as far as I can tell. I've tried to discuss it with them a few times over the last couple of years, and no one ever responds to my inquiries on it. Basically, sadly, it seems as though they're more or less a shell of what they used to be...at least in terms of the Piper-clone aircraft they used to sell. When I bought my original plans from them in the mid-1990s and went over there to pick them up, I got a tour from the owner: There seemed to be all kinds of aircraft parts construction happening there, including the fuselages. But those guys all retired and no one really came along to take their place(s), so it sort of just died out near as I can tell. Now about all they do is to repair engine mounts and landing gear legs for certified aircraft. They do a really nice job of welding on those--I looked at a number of yellow-tagged engine mounts when I was there last.
Just found your channel, will be following.
Also in Canada (SK) building a Sonerai 2, at the build table stage right now. Did the same thing, bought my plans from Sonex but picked my tubing up in Ontario when I went there on a trip.
What is that tool call for you to hold the piping off the table.
Great episode 1 video. I'll definitely will be keeping an eye out for your updates. Thank you for the video.
beautiful work
This is what I’ve been looking for. Will be watching. Have had the 2+2 in mind for awhile. Would love to get in contact with you for some questions.
Just found your channel--great stuff!
I built one of these back in the early 1990s, but never finished the project. Long story short, I was just finishing graduate school at the time and built the tail feathers, gear legs and then the fuselage. Had it all welded up, ready for the gear fittings to be welded on and then put the gear on the thing...and my training program required too much time away, and I sold the project. I always regretted that.
Now that I'm sort of on the other end of the career, I am going to take another whack at it starting this winter. I have a new set of plans, and also have a set of Javron Super Cub wings. I'm an A&P from a previous life, so I have done a LOT of gas welding over the years...and I did use the OA process for that build. Now I also have a Miller TIG machine and want to use that a bit too, and coincidentally just ordered some of the 4130 cut-offs from Spruce. I saw you mention it in another video and chuckled.
Anyway, I just subscribed to your channel and will check out all your other videos on this build as well. So far though the two videos I've watched really brought back memories! Love your idea(s) on the table centerline and the tape measure glued in place. Those are great ideas. I also have a Bridgeport mill and a Southbend lathe, but my lathe pales in comparison to what yours looked like. That thing looks huge--although I couldn't really tell exactly what you were running there.
Revisiting these videos now, as I have a new shop (after a move) and am doing some aircraft recovery/restoration. Still toying with the idea of building a "Super-Chub" sort of an aircraft, based upon the 2+2 plans.
On the tack- and fully-welded fuselages from Wag Aero: They haven't offered those in years. I live 150 miles or so from them, and have visited them a few times over the last 4-5 years. Their fixtures are sitting around, covered in junk...as they don't have anyone left to build the airframes. I even offered to talk with them about doing it for them, but they don't really seem all that interested in offering the stuff anymore, as far as I can tell. I've tried to discuss it with them a few times over the last couple of years, and no one ever responds to my inquiries on it. Basically, sadly, it seems as though they're more or less a shell of what they used to be...at least in terms of the Piper-clone aircraft they used to sell. When I bought my original plans from them in the mid-1990s and went over there to pick them up, I got a tour from the owner: There seemed to be all kinds of aircraft parts construction happening there, including the fuselages. But those guys all retired and no one really came along to take their place(s), so it sort of just died out near as I can tell. Now about all they do is to repair engine mounts and landing gear legs for certified aircraft. They do a really nice job of welding on those--I looked at a number of yellow-tagged engine mounts when I was there last.