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2007 Progress Highlights
Perspective and Retrospective
As we come to the end of the second year of work on the AirCar and ElectriCar, we have completed the fuselage pattern and molds, and work is underway on the three fuselage skins. Much of this upcoming year will be spent working on a long list of details, including doors, windows, lights, wings, canards, dashboards and upholstery. An attempt will be made to display both vehicles at EAA's (Experimental Aircraft Association) show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in July.
January 2007
Started work on doors by cutting door shapes out of fuselage. Selected door handles, created running lights and taillights, started work on front suspension. QUOTE: "Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson, Philosopher
February 2007
Completed ElectriCar fuselage skin, wings and canards, Continued work on front suspension. Created headlights and lens covers. Created full size wing ribs for AirCar wings. RULE: Don't be afraid to change your mind.
March 2007
Created AirCar fuselage skin, delivered AirCar wing molds, ElectriCar sat on its own four wheels for first time, RULE: Plan on throwing away the first two or three versions of everything you make.
April 2007
Created AirCar full size canards, wings and rear suspension, continued shaping doors, selected seats. Worked on wing folding mechanism. RULE: Don't tell anyone how long you think it will take to finish the project.
May 2007
Finished door plugs and door molds, and created door frame and first set of doors. Started mounting AirCar wings. Installed ElectriCar Windows. RULE: Don't hold our for perfection.
June 2007
Completed dashboard and taillights for both vehicles, created molds for AirCar nacelles and vertical stabilizers. QUOTE: "If not us, who? If not now, when? Ronald Reagan, President
July 2007
Created upholstery for both vehicles, including seats and interior. Painted ElectriCar its primer color and installed windows. Installed canard on AirCar. Received United States Design Patent # US D545,925 S for Flying Automobile, and United States Design Patent # US D547,238 S for Aerodynamic Vehicle. RULE: Every solution exacts a price.
August 2007
Continued to work on AirCar wings, vertical stabilizers and engine nacelles. Drove ElectriCar for first time. RULE: Keep what works. Replace what doesn't.
September 2007
Continued work on AirCar wing. Adjusted some elements in ElectriCar drive train. RULE: The most difficult problem to solve is selecting the right people.
October 2007
Continued work fitting AirCar wing. Gave primer and final coats of paint to all doors, canards, nacelles, wheel pants and vertical stabilizers. Decided to rework drivetrain to reduce friction and while getting rid of the chain drive.
November 2007
Finished fitting and sanding AirCar wings and painted them with primer then their final paint. Installed ElectriCar new ground power unit and successfully drove car. Power required to drive ElectriCar is now a bit below the power required to electrically drive the Beetle a year ago, so some modification work still needs to be done to reach our goal of using half the power required to drive the Beetle.
December 2007
ElectriCar and AirCar are finally painted and ready for final assembly.
