Morristown, TN EAA Chapter 1494

06/17/2026

RV-12iS Build Update:
Week 118: With the first day of summer approaching, many of our youth builders were on road trips or involved with local activities. Never the less, our volunteers and one builder picked up where we left off the prior week. The day began by removing the wings that we attached for display at our monthly breakfast and placing them back in their rack. With all the work remaining inside the fuselage, walking 11 and 1/2 feet around each wing would have been a major inconvenience! The tailcone fairing team continued their work drilling, trimming and sanding the lower half of the fairing. The upper half was then trimmed and sanded for best fit with the lower half. Offset lines for the mating surfaces were then laid out as well as nutplate locations. With both halves attached to the tailcone, both halves were match drilled to #40. Nutplates were then attached to the upper half with flush squeezed rivets. With both halves held in place with #6 machine screws, marks for final sanding were laid out to produce an even gap at the faying surfaces. Fastener holes for the upper half were machine countersunk and the two halves were again assembled with #6 machine screws. And over in the corner, our one builder continued applying a carbon fiber adhesive film to the center and right seat instrument panel.

On the forward side of the firewall, generator A and B ground cables were attached to the Rotax fuse box lugs and to the firewall. Next, the Rotax starter relay wire had to be routed through an existing insulating boot on the relay and shared with another wire on the same mounting lug. When that was complete, another cable was attached to the master relay, two HIC cables were connected to the Rotax ECU, and the IS BUS connector was secured to the instrument panel shelf. On the aft side of the firewall, main and auxiliary fuel pump cables in the main harness were routed through the firewall and instrument panel shelf to be connected with corresponding Rotax ECU harness followed by another firewall ground cable installation. And lastly, both center and right seat instrument panels with their carbon fiber film, radios, and displays were installed.

Week 119: This week the morning session began work on both ends of the plane. In the rear of the plane, the tailcone team continued work trimming and fitting the two halves to establish the correct clearance between it, the rudder, and the stabilator. Working in three dimensions, too much of a trim in one plane effects the clearance and fit in another. On the top half, a hole had to be cut in the correct location to provide clearance for the rudder horn, while on the bottom half, another clearance hole had to be cut to provide clearance for the trim/servo assembly. When finished, a clearance of 1/8” had to be maintained between all moving parts and the control surfaces. Needless to say, the tailcone was installed, marked, and trimmed multiple times.

In the cockpit, another team was trimming, routing and attaching the control cables for the heater vent doors. These doors are located on the firewall, underneath the instrument panel, and behind the control pedals. With very limited room and visibility, it was necessary to switch between workers to avoid fatigue. Even with two workers, the entire morning session was required to install only the right seat cable. While that was being done, the fuel hose between the filler cap and the tank was installed. Once completed, the last few rivets securing the tailcone to the fuselage were pulled.

The afternoon session began work on the left seat heater vent doors. Although we learned a lot from the previous installation, it was still very time consuming and brutal for the builders. We will finish it up next week. We did however manage to install the upper forward fuselage skin, the right seat instrument panel and display screen, and the access panels on the cockpit floor.
Vince Miraldi

06/17/2026

We would like to congratulate our Flight Training Scholarship recipients of 2026!
Four scholarships have been awarded so far this year! We have some ambitious students with great flying and learning ahead of them. We look forward to the next possible scholarships for this year, and we are eager to see where our current students will go in their aviation journey.
The recipients are:

Bella Vaught - Chapter scholarship
Gabriela Trujillo - Chapter Scholarship
Ayden Long - Ray Scholarship
Logan Fowler - Ray Scholarship

Thank you to our supporters and chapter members who contribute to these scholarships! You make this possible!

06/10/2026

Annual Splash-in on Douglas Lake
Saturday, June 20th
10am - 2pm

Seaplanes & Lakeshore Cookout!

Please join us for a day on the shores of Lake Douglas at East Tennessee's seaplane base, TN47!

If you have a seaplane, this is a great event to fly to, moor or dock your aircraft and be ferried to the shore in our soft sided boat. We'll be serving hamburgers, hotdogs, sides and desserts around 11:30.

If you are driving over, there's plenty of parking. The address is 882 Lakeshore Drive, Dandridge.

For more information, contact Bob Dilk: [email protected]

06/09/2026

Youth Aviation Day Camp
Tues/Wed - July 7th & 8th
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm each day (lunch provided)

Registration is open on our Square Site:
https://eaa1494.square.site/product/young-eagles-workshop-2-day-aviation-camp-2026-/ZRDGFW33FNYOQZ5C5JBDG6AB?cs=true&cst=custom
Cost for the 2 days is $45 per attendee.

We are excited to offer this fun and educational 2-day Youth Camp filled with a series of hands-on Aviation & STEM related activities.
The 2 days (9am to 1pm) will include a variety of activities with several things you will build/create and take home with you.

During these two days, you will engage in hands on projects, including sheet metal/riveting, soldering/circuits project, introduction to break/shear/lathe tools (older youth), safety wire & torque wrench hands on activities, building a wooden wing rib (small scale), and completing an electrical project. For those who have attended our past workshops or a previous year's day camp, you will have a chance to take your skills to the next level. For first time attendees - there's no prerequisite other than a sense of curiosity and eagerness for some hands on aviation learning!
Additionally, you'll get to talk with pilots and instructors, learn about aviation careers, and engage in multiple sessions to explore the world of aircraft, navigation, learning to fly, and the airport environment and the people who work and fly there.

06/06/2026

Thank you Alex!

06/05/2026

Breakfast at the Morristown Airport is tomorrow, Saturday, June 6th!!
8:30 - 10:30

Breakfast is at the new EAA Aviation Learning Center/Hangar on the east side of the airport, at the approach end of RW 23.

If you are driving over, the address that will direct you to the parking area adjacent to the hangar is:
340 Piper Street, Morristown, TN.

Looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow morning!

Karen

Send a message to learn more

06/02/2026

RV-12iS Build Update:
Week 116: With Memorial Day falling on our build day and attendance being optional, many of our youth builders were spending time with friends and family. On the flip side, having the day off allowed more adult volunteers to attend to fill in the gaps. We started the morning session by continuing work on the stabilator cables. First, the forward and aft stabilator cables were attached to each other at the turnbuckle. A wire tool was made to hold the cables stationary while the turnbuckle barrel was being turned. A weight was placed on the stabilator to hold the trailing edge down while the upper cable was adjusted so that the control stick was just clear of the forward stop. The lower cable was then tightened enough to take up any slack. The control sticks where then placed at 10” from the instrument panel base. Using a tensiometer, the control cables were then adjusted to 35 – 45 lbs. to prevent the cables from coming in contact with the tailcone bulkheads. The proper travel was then checked by moving the control sticks and verifying the stabilator reached its travel stops just before control sticks reached theirs. When that was completed, the Static, AoA (Angel of Attack), and Pitot lines were routed through the structure and attached to the ADAHRS (Air Data, Attitude, and Heading Reference System). Electrical connectors were then made to the ADAHRS and all lines secured to prevent chafing. Work then resumed wiring the overhead cabin lighting and canopy latch interlock attached to the rollbar.

The afternoon session began by starting to permanently install the fuel tank behind the seats. While that was being done, the final LP4-3 rivets were being installed in the tailcone to fuselage joint. Wiring to be attached to the Rotax engine was routed through the firewall and connector pins crimped on the to the 9-pin cable leads.

Week 117: This week, we were able to tie up a few loose ends that we developed over the past few sessions. The morning session began with the installation of the fuel tank. Although one of the fuel lines was formed to specification, it was a bit long and had to be modified by cutting some excess tubing off and re-flaring the end. Although we anticipated this would be a difficult task working below the cockpit floor, the modification went relatively quick. With that modification completed, the fuel tank was bolted in place, fuel lines were attached as well as the fuel sender and ground wires. While that was being done, one of our volunteers was busy working on the empennage fairing. This two-piece fiberglass fairing comes oversized in the kits and requires that trim lines be laid out and having excess material removed. Using a Dremel tool and cut off wheel, the fiberglass was trimmed to just shy of the trim line. A sanding block was used to manually remove the last bit of material to prevent it being over-trimmed.

The afternoon session began with installing the last few LP4-3 pulled rivets on the bottom of the fuselage to tailcone joint. When that was completed, the shoulder harnesses cables were attached to the harness lugs in the tailcone. Next the two baggage area access covers and flap cover (complete with a cup holder) were installed using stainless steel machine screws. And finally, the ignition module, a rocker switch, and the cockpit remote switch were installed in the left seat instrument panel.
Vince Miraldi

05/19/2026

RV-12is Build Update:
Week 114: This week the morning session began by continuing work on the Garmin G3X display panel wiring. The GTR 200 backplate was assembled and the 37 pin com radio connector from the Garmin common harness as well as the coaxial antennae wire were attached. Once completed, the GTX 35R rack was installed. Next, after many month of lying on the floor and feeling neglected, it was time to permanently attach the tailcone to the fuselage! With the tailcone on a table, wooden spacers were used to hold the aft end into position to line up with the corresponding holes in the fuselage and side skins. In some instances, three layers of skin had to be layered in the right order to insure a smooth and consistent transition. Beginning at the bottom of the joint, clecos were installed from the centerline, up the sides, and around the top of the of the assembly. We found it necessary to have someone in the fuselage with a flashlight to better see that holes were being lined up correctly. With all sections in place, starting once again at the bottom and working up, cleco were taken out and replaced with LP4-3 blind rivets.

The afternoon session continued with riveting the section together, but only to the top of the cockpit side skins. Once the rear window and canopy are in place, the remainder of the rivets will be installed. Up top, the backup battery and GPS components were attached to the panel base and firewall as well as installing the GTX 35R backplate assembly was installed on the rack. Electrical connection between the harness and these components were then made and the MFD connector was stowed. Both CPU cooling fans were then wired to the power leads and covered with heat shrink tubing. Next, the instrument panels were temporarily screwed in place and display screens attached. And finally, work began on the overhead cockpit light. Previously installed rivets had to be drilled out to accommodate this option, followed by match drilling. Once completed, the Potentiometer (rotary dimmer switch) and the red eyeball cockpit light were installed in dimmer housing.

Week 115: This week the morning session began by installing the shoulder strap lugs to the bottom of the tailcone skins with LP4-3 pulled rivets. Next the cockpit steps were bolted to the forward cockpit bulkhead using standard NAS hardware. Once installed, the fuselage skin and step were masked in preparation for the application of Pro-seal to fill any gaps where and cold air or exhaust fumes might enter the cockpit. While that was being done, the forward turtle deck skin was positioned on the fuselage and held in place with clecos in preparation for the fuel vent line installation. Next a 28” length of 1/4” aluminum tubing was straightened and two bends were made in accordance with the drawing template. Fittings were slid on to the tubing, a flare was formed on the top end, the bottom end was trimmed to 45 degrees and 1/2” below the lower fuselage skin to vent to the outside air. While that was being done, a carbon fiber adhesive film was being trimmed to cover our instrument panels and some Pro-seal was applied to a few newly installed rivets on the firewall. The stabilator/AST assembly was lifted in to place and attached to the aft tailcone bulkhead and checked for freedom of movement.

With the stabilator/AST assembly in place, the afternoon session continued by attaching the servo tray assembly to the aft bulkhead and AST assembly. Due to limited visibility and access, this was another very time consuming activity. Using the string that was routed through the tailcone months ago, the stabilator cables were pulled through snap bushings, out the aft bulkhead, and attached to the rudder horns.
Vince Miraldi

05/17/2026

Yesterday, seven of our local youth attended our third workshop in electrical circuits and theory. In this workshop, each student was given a kit with all the components and tools necessary to build a functional basic DC electric motor. This required the students to assemble all the components from tiny threaded fasteners, to magnets, armatures, commutators, brushes and power packs. Students learned about polarity and how the commutator of their motors reverses polarity to maintain continuous rotation. Additionally, using a volt meter, they also were shown that when one motor was coupled to another, the driven motor was also capable of acting as a generator producing electrical current. Many thanks to Bob, Nancy, Ernie, Bill, and Christy for planning and assisting with this workshop.
Vince Miraldi

05/06/2026

RV-12iS Build Update:
Week 112: This week, our morning session began work on our Dual Garmin G3X Display. First, the co-pilot display panel had to be temporarily attached to the panel attach strip. Once in place, the top right corner of the display panel was used as a template to mark the trim line of the attach strip, followed be match drilling a #27 hole. The panel was then removed and the excess material was trimmed from the attach strip. Two nutplates were installed on the attach strip with squeezed rivets. Excess material on the panel stiffener was removed, followed by deburring and riveted to the back of the co-pilot display panel. A single nutplate was also riveted in place. While that work was being performed, another team was busy working on the instrument panel base doublers. Doublers were first attached to the front of the base with clecos, followed by match drilling #27 and #40 holes. They were then removed and deburred.

During the afternoon session, the instrument panel base was dimpled and the doublers machine countersunk. When completed, the doublers were riveted in place on the back of the instrument panel base with squeezed rivets. At the same time, another team was installing the electrical connectors in the fuselage that will line up with the connectors in the wings when the wing spars are slid transversely through the fuselage and the wings secured in place. The right wing has only an electrical connection for lighting. However, in addition to lighting, the left wing has to have an extra fitting and hardware installed to connect the AoA (Angle of Attack) air line between the wing port and fuselage.

Week 113: This week, the morning session started by riveting the two nutplates we were short to the panel base doubler. We then moved on to closing out the openings in the fuselage where the wing to fuselage electrical connectors were installed last week. Once completed, three drill guides that will be used to locate and drill the holes for the comm radio rack bracketry in the firewall were separated on the bandsaw. Using these guides, the holes we then drilled, deburred, and the brackets were riveted in place to the forward firewall and panel base with pulled rivets. Snap bushings were then installed on the lower brackets and the main wiring harnesses were routed through them.

The afternoon session began with the wiring of the spar pin interlock switches and fuel sender. The spar pin interlock wires had to be routed through some of the floor panels and adjacent structure and finally connected to the “normally open” and “common” spade terminal of the interlock switch. The attach points for the fuel sender wires were riveted to the bottom of the mid-fuselage brace and secured with tie-wraps. While that was being done, another team was installing the GTR 200 and GTX 35R racks on the firewall and panel base bracketry. Work then began on the canopy light. First, a #12 hole was drilled in the near the center of the roll bar followed by the installation of a snap bushing. A piece of plastic tubing that will shield the wires from chaffing was then cut to length. Next, a length of safety wire was routed through the #12 hole, down through the roll bar and exiting through the bottom of the roll bar. Both the tubing and wires were then pulled up through the roll bar, exiting through the #12 hole and snap bushing.
Vince Miraldi