Where is everyone on your build? 54 builders out there now!

[RonFranck]

It's been 4 years since anyone has posted to this topic so I thought I'd breath a little life back into it.
First, I think I'm possibly the slowest builder out here in Pantherland with kit #2. It all boils down to how much time you put in on your project, not the complexity of the build. I am a world class procrastinator, just ask my wife!
Where I'm at currently......
Tail feathers = HS, VS, Rudder, Elevators riveted.
Flaps and ailerons riveted.
The majority of the work on the wings has been completed. The next step for them is to mate them to the fuselage.
Fuel tanks are assembled with clecos and ready for final cleaning and then sealing.
A fresh batch of FlameMaster arrived today so I'll be sealing my tanks shortly.
Rear fuselage assembled and riveted up to the point it can be and has been mated to the forward half of the fuselage.
Forward fuselage clecoed together including firewall, instrument panel, top cowling, bottom and side skins. All updrilled and deburred. Lots of priming done and some interior painting. I paint exposed interior parts prior to assembly.
As for an engine, I'm keeping my eye on one in development. I hope there will be some sort of public announcement during Sun-N-Fun or AirVenture 2020. http://www.epi-eng.com/aircraft_engine_ ... engine.htm

It's got Legs 2.JPG

[wmensink]

+2 on canopy hints, steps, and guidelines please. My email address on file.

Will Mensink
#14

[Viking]

Kit #50

Tail completed

Waiting for my wing and aft fuselage kit to arrive

[swpedano]

cowling is done now working on canopy

Stephen Pedano
Builder #006

Might you have canopy install instructions or are you relying on Bob's expertise? Whatever little tibits of info you have I sure could use!

Tony

No I don't have any instruction on that. I'm just going off of Bobs expert advice.

Stephen

[Tony Spicer]

cowling is done now working on canopy

Stephen Pedano
Builder #006

Might you have canopy install instructions or are you relying on Bob's expertise? Whatever little tibits of info you have I sure could use!

Tony

[swpedano]

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cowling is done now working on canopy

Stephen Pedano
Builder #006

[Lowrider]

Very COOL Bob!! Did you whoop up on the RV-4? What engine is installed? Think I need a 2 hole model.

[woolleys]

Outstanding effort Brent. As you have found installing the wings is a snap.

I've got 25 hours on my panther and still extremely pleased with the performance. It handles well and recently found that you can land it in a 15 mph direct crosswind without an issue ( suggest wheel landings). With my short wings and heavier wing loading it does handle turbulence well but the light weight will require a little more work during gusty crosswind landings.

I recently did a speed check at various altitudes to get a clear picture of how fast this sports panther is going.

At 2000 feet it was indicating 190 MPH at 2720 RPM's. At 5500 it was 181 MPH. At 7500 it was 178. Cruise RPM of 2500 netted 174 at 2000 and 159 at 7500.

This little hotrod will handle 5+ G's easily ( came home with 5.2 showing after a hassle with an RV 4) and climb at 2000 fpm at 90 MPH. It will cruise at 160 MPH indicated on 6.5 GPH at 7500 doing 185 true. But I'm wondering; what will it do with a 180 HP 0360 and a constant speed prop.

Keep building, this baby is fun to fly.

[mayo3808]

Sunday afternoon with help from a friend we installed wings to adjust spar guides and rollers for spar pins alignment.
Checked wing incident angle inboard and outboard on each wing. Right wing was 0.0 percent inboard and outboard.
Left wing was 0.1 both inboard and outboard.
We had three cars stop and get out to see what we were doing and almost 2 car wrecks from people rubber necking as they drove by.

Brent Mayo
SN 53

[PlaneDan]

Actually, I believe there are 57 builders as we also have 3 BETA builders out there. It also appears that when the parts and manuals are complete, we are going to have an explosion in the number of completed Panthers within a very short time span. One thing that I am curious about is how many of those builders are Plans builders and of the plans builders, what stage of build are they at.

And, Tony, are you still using the Jab 3300?