Eagle's Lair
Members Roster

September 21, 2001

Ladies & Gentlemen:

It's about time again to bring interested people up to date on the NAE™ project, so here's the latest stuff.  Since the June update we have been building a new vertical stabilizer  for the NAE™. The old one was demilitarized when the F-104 was sold by the Air Force in 1971. When they "demil" something, they take a cutting torch or a metal cutting saw and create a critical failure point on some designated part of the aircraft. In the case of the F-104, they cut through the attachment points where the tail cone mounts to the fuselage and they burn completely through the vertical beam and attached skin. Aero Engineering had given us a vertical beam from their surplus parts so we were very fortunate to have in our possession the critical part for the vertical stabilizer. I purchased the necessary aluminum for rebuilding the vertical from Boeing surplus and all the necessary nut plates, screws and rivets from Spencer aircraft parts in Seattle. Jon Higley, Russ Garlow and I spent a great deal of time fabricating and assembling the parts and building the necessary fairings where the tail attaches to the tail cone. Very tedious and time consuming work.

We have also been working on the front wheel compartment and will be assembling the front suspension in the near future. Russ Garlow has nearly completed the workups for the Eagle which will be painted down each side of the NAE. It looks pretty cool.

The very sad and unfortunate events which occurred when our nation was attacked by terrorists has resulted in precautions being taken to stiffen up our self defense and national security. One casualty of this is our ability to get machine work done by our partners in Canada. Our engine and start cart are being provided by S&S Turbines in Ft. St. John, BC and machine shop work is provided by Eagle Machining in Abbotsford, BC. Getting the necessary parts back and forth across the border will probably be a problem.

My own airplane is still grounded because general aviation is restricted in class B airspace. Class B airspace in the Puget Sound is the area within a 30 miles radius of Seattle from the ground to infinity. I have never golfed before in my whole life, but maybe I'll finally have to take it up until things settle down a bit and the bad guys are finished off. 

In case anyone is interested in fast cars, this weekend September 20-24 is the USFRA meet at Bonneville. The salt is great this year, you can drive one handed at 200+ and take time to look around, if you do it quickly.......

Regards........Ed Shadle

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