I’ve been casting about for the next thing I should be working on. I can’t move forward with the mains because I am still waiting for the gear hoop. I’ve put most interior details on hold pending installation of the strakes, and those require the spar to be installed. But I’m holding off on the spar because it makes the plane much harder to turn over, and it makes sense to get some bottom finishing done first, as much as possible.

So it’s on to the turtleback! On Thursday I picked up the plywood to start making the forms. I didn’t get much further, though, because John and I went flying in Slick Kitten. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of flight in this plane. I’ve seen people talk about it nonchalantly – how great it is, but as if they’re describing a nice car. Well, not me. This is fantastic! I’m getting to experience two enormous events at the same time – my first few flight hours, and in an extremely fast and agile plane! I could spend days up there, and still find tiny details like turning exciting.

It’s also just a LITTLE distracting from the build cycle. =)