Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

August 27, 2005

Ladies & Gentlemen:

Earlier this week, we received news that Don Lemon from Interstate Wood Product in Longview, WA donated wheels for the rear of the NAE™, to be used for the mid- range testing. They once saw duty on the front of the Joint Venture Diesel truck at the Bonneville Salt flats.

Yesterday, Ed Shadle & Keith Zanghi hauled several parts north to Abbotsford, BC for Steve Green to work on at his machine shop - Eagle Machine, Inc. These items will be machined or fabricated to accomodate the changes being made to the NAE™.

Today's work party had Ed Shadle, Keith Zanghi, Jon Higley, Bill Eckberg, Sean Rondestvedt, Bernard McVay, Omar Charmosta, Ed Drumheller II, Tim Finley, John Drury, Steve Wallace, and Von Armstrong. Visiting today was our newest team member, Johann Sigurjonsson, a hydraulics specialist, with several others accompanying him. Multiple tasks were worked on today by those in attendance.

First, our visitors who were with Johann were given a tour of the hangar and had several aspects of the project explained to them. Julie Cree and Amanda Schmahl were the two ladies along for the experience with John Parks, Jamie Greaves, and J.P. Sigurjonsson, Johann's son.

Ed Shadle spent most of the day in the electronics bay just behind the cockpit clearing out obstructions of old ductings on the floor.  This will make room for a plate that will be installed on floor as a platform for the data acquisition hardware rack. Jon assisted Ed in removing hydraulic fittings on various sections of this compartment. Sean and Von worked together on drilling holes in and mounting the large accumulator onto the hydraulic bay plate which mounts where the gun used to be located.

Bill Eckberg worked on the mid-body area where the new hydraulics system will be housed. Bill also spent time briefing Johann on the design of the new hydraulic system being installed so Johann can begin his work as the new team hydraulic specialist. Tim Finley worked on fabrication of an extended cannon plug holding plate for the engine, while Ed Drumheller II continued sewing another parachute bag together.

Steve Wallace worked on the placement of different sensors on various locations of the vehicle. He also continued work on the wiring of the data acquisition system to make improvements for the next testing phase of the project. Bernard began working on a new transport axle which will not only be stronger for the long haul to Edwards AFB this fall, but will also lower the height of the tail so it will clear the hangar door when it's moved out for loading.

John Drury and "Omar" spent their efforts on continuing work on repairing the Lev-X™ semi-tractor exhaust manifold. It will need to be taken to the shop for refacing before installation. This will fix the problem encountered last July when the truck was not performing uphill through the Rockies on our way to the Dawson Creek's Summer Cruise 2005 Mile Zero appearance.

What did Keith do? Well, team members are having to watch him carefully. Because of all the graveyard shift work he's been doing recently, coupled with the all day excursions north to Abbotsford, BC and not getting much sleep as a result, Bill found him in the cockpit, sitting backwards, mumbling to himself, "Is this the start button? How do I drive this thing?" We do the best we can to help him out.

Next week we're expecting the donation, by Parker Outdoor Advertising, of an installation of large decals of the NAE™ on both sides of the trailer. This will be done by Fusion Imaging. Watch for our next update which will feature this great new addition to the "professional look" of the project on our transport vehicle.

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