Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

September 16, 2006

Ladies & Gentlemen:

Today another small group of team members met at the hangar to get some needed work done on the NAE™. Present were Ed Shadle, Keith Zanghi, Jon Higley, Bill Eckberg, Rich Pengelley, Von Armstrong, Ed Drumheller II and his wife Barbara, Steve Wallace, Bernard McVay, Trish Woods and her daughter Gabrielle, and Sam Yellowbird.

Today's focus was on the car's hydraulic system. The hydrualic "mule" pump was positioned into the trailer where the car sits and Rich Pengelley, Keith Zanghi, Von Armstrong and Jon Higley refilled the system's reservoir. Then, with Ed Shadle at the hydraulic panel on the left side of the car, Jon Higley in the cockpit to maneuver the steering stick, and Rich Pengelley working the "mule" the steering was checked to evaluate why the car was not getting any right turning authority. The final analysis at this time is that the front wheel box and suspension has to be pulled from the car and inspected for possible torquing of the brass fitting in the front axle assembly. If this turns out to be the cause of the problem, an alternative will have to be devised to replace it.

After completing the hydraulic assessment, Bill Eckberg went to work adjusting the engine's throttle setting at the engine, while Jon Higley remained in the cockpit and manipulated the engine throttle lever to various positions so Bill could properly set the spindle mechanism at the engine. Team members present today held a brief meeting to discuss various improvements that need doing to the loading process and debriefed on how things have been going lately and what is coming up on the calendar.

Meanwhile, Sam Yellowbird was doing more work on the car's left side tail feather paint on the tail cone of the fuselage where massive blistering had occurred. Sam added the feather texturing over the white background to match the existing job done originally by Eddie Harris several years ago.

Next weekend the NAE™ will be on display in Puyallup at Hydraulic Repair & Design's new facility along the Puyallup River's north side Levy Road.

Be sure to visit the Events Schedule page for upcoming appearances; like the Aerospace Testing Expo in Anaheim, CA.

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