Hi Folks,

I am slowly plugging along on the bottom of the plane, with it inverted as it has been for months now.  In my estimation I’m happy to report that I’m moving into the final phase of tasks to finish up the bottom of the plane that will allow me to flip the plane back upright and continue my quest to get it finished.

All the bottom surfaces of the plane are in primer, and I will start painting most of those surfaces soon.  I am also on the verge of doing the micro finish, primer and paint on the bottom components of the plane: bottom cowling, RAM air scoop/hell hole cover, landing brake, nose gear doors, nose gear strut fairing and main landing gear legs/fairings.  

The main gear leg-to-fuselage interface fairings major glassing is complete, and I’ll be permanently mounting them to the gear legs soon.

In addition, I have some ancillary tasks to complete on the nose gear actuator and main gear wheels/brakes/axles.  Once the finishing/painting tasks are completed and these ancillary tasks done, it will be time to flip the bird back upright.

I expect this bird to be inverted for another week or two before it gets flipped back upright to close out the strakes with the top skin install.

After the top strakes it will be on to the winglet/rudder install (Chapter 20).  Then engine and top cowling install, topside finish and prime/paint.