The Beech 99 to KA350i Project!

[phil744]

Heheheh I cant beleve i missed this post aswell, nice one Trevor bet ur well excited, and we are all glad to see you back

[G-BVOB]

Trevor,

Congratulations on your new project!

Great to see a prop(er) sim (not another 737  ) and another old bird that'll get a second life. Not sure that I agree with the statement "I know how much work it is going to be" - my experience is it's a never ending sequence of mystery each time you open up a new part of the aircraft 

If you've got any engineering or maintenance manuals for the B99 do some planning before you get to the point of cutting, decisions over where and how you chop control lines for example can make life a lot easier or harder when it comes to turning the beast into a sim. And if there's any paperwork with the airframe grab it, like you say the fact there's history behind that lump of metal means a lot.

Looking forward to seeing this progress.

Cheers
Jon
www.g-bvob.net

[Trevor Hale]

If you've got any engineering or maintenance manuals for the B99 do some planning before you get to the point of cutting, decisions over where and how you chop control lines for example can make life a lot easier or harder when it comes to turning the beast into a sim. And if there's any paperwork with the airframe grab it, like you say the fact there's history behind that lump of metal means a lot.

Jon,

Thanks for the kind words.  I have to agree with you on the paperwork.  As far as I know, I will get the COA, logs and assorted manuals with the aircraft, as if I bought it to fly it.  As for the cutting thing, I am not an engineer, nor am I an AME.  I was actually pondering this last night.  Don't quote me on this, but I think the aircraft baing as old as it is and still small enough that it will have cables to all the control surfaces rather then hydraulics. (although I could be wrong, and In a way the hydraulics would be easier to deal with)  The big thing that I am hoping is that the control yokes and rudder pedles themselves are linked under the floor and behind the mip.  Crossing my fingers when I cut through the fuse, and through the control cables maybe the control linkages will still remain in tact.

I know where I want to cut the Nose off (hard because of the nose gear bay), I am just not quite sure how far back I will go (as Jack suggested a couple rows of seats might be neat) if they are still inside.

I will ask their maintenance guy (who is rebuilding one of these for flight) where he suggests it be cut.  I am not going to just "Wing it" Sorry for the pun.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.

Trev

 

[Trevor Hale]

Heheheh I cant beleve i missed this post aswell, nice one Trevor bet ur well excited, and we are all glad to see you back

Thanks Phil, excited isn't the word..  ( i just want to get it and start making airplane noises while sitting in it) LOL

[Maurice]

Thanks Phil, excited isn't the word..  ( i just want to get it and start making airplane noises while sitting in it) LOL

As long as you are talking about making airplane noises and since everybody is looking for the perfect sound files, here you have an opportunity to make real airplane noises in your bedroom. Just attach a couple of propellers to the engines and fire these babies up. Guaranteed to eliminate the need for vibrators in the bedroom

Now... that's a way to get your girlfriend off (& flying) and stop saying that you are crazy. And you could join the mile high club while still on the ground. I don't know but I do think it's a great idea.

Maurice

[Garys]

Awsome project Trevor, Looking fwd to seeing it. The best cut would probably be right in front of the main frame. Its the step towards the front . Still room for a row of seats behind the cockpit seats if you cut it their. The flight control cables are in the floor and the servos are just behind the main frame in the floor but you dont need that for the sim unless you want to see the ailerons move on autopilot. The maintenance guy there will be able to fill you in. If at any time you get stuck dont hesitate to PM me. I think you will be surprised at how easily it will be to clean that thing out but valve grind compund in screw heads will be a must with this bird. Also look for a product called mouse milk. That stuff in awsome.  The easiest part of aircraft overhaul is actually tearing the stuff out.

[Trevor Hale]

Wow Gary thats is great information.  I do not think I will need the servo's But it is a good thought lol.  Perhaps you could take on of the pictures I have posted and edit it with an arrow where you were thinking.  I will post my edit on this post and show you where I was thinking.

Your help will be appreciated, but I must say I am not familer with your comment "valve grind compund in screw heads will be a must with this bird"

what did you mean by this?

Trev

[jackpilot]

I would cut open a door for entering the sim on the side and keep one window behind to make room for a row of club seats!!!

I know I'm nuts!!

[Garys]

LOL thats awsome jack.

Using valve grind compund is an old trick used to remove screws without stripping the heads. The grit of the compound really lets you get some bite into the screw and plenty of torque behind the scewdriver without stripping the head. Works great on partially striped heads as well. Any aircraft that sits outside for any period of time tends to seize up. The place where I worked when I first moved to Canada used to every now and then buy scrapped airframes for spare parts, so Ive spent a fair bit of time doing exactly what your about to embark on. 

Were you have your lines would be the perfect place to cut if you decide you dont want any extra seating. The main frame is around the 3rd window so aywhere fwd of that would be perfect.

Gary

[Kennair]

Fantastic (and very ambitious) project Trev, good on you.  Those yokes, rudders and particularly throttles would be worth a fortune.  Bob's gonna hate you 

As for avionics, remember Ruscool for some of your guages and switch panels due to the similarity with the B200/350.

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this build.

Ken.

[Trevor Hale]

I would cut open a door for entering the sim on the side and keep one window behind to make room for a row of club seats!!!

Thats a really neat idea Jack.  I may need to think about that one. 

[Trevor Hale]

Using valve grind compund is an old trick used to remove screws without stripping the heads. The grit of the compound really lets you get some bite into the screw and plenty of torque behind the scewdriver without stripping the head. Works great on partially striped heads as well. Any aircraft that sits outside for any period of time tends to seize up. The place where I worked when I first moved to Canada used to every now and then buy scrapped airframes for spare parts, so Ive spent a fair bit of time doing exactly what your about to embark on. 

Gary this information is very valuable.  I will take your advice and see if I can find this stuff, as well as the other stuff you mentioned which I am guessing is better then wd-40 for loosening corroded screws.

This will be frustrating at times but I am sure it will be a learning experience and can be lots of fun.

Were you have your lines would be the perfect place to cut if you decide you dont want any extra seating. The main frame is around the 3rd window so aywhere fwd of that would be perfect.

awesome, so keep in front of the 3rd window and I will be in great shape.

fantastic advice.

Thanks a bundle.

[Trevor Hale]

Those yokes, rudders and particularly throttles would be worth a fortune.  Bob's gonna hate you 

I think he already does lol

As for avionics, remember Ruscool for some of your guages and switch panels due to the similarity with the B200/350.

How could I forget them..  I am going to be relying on their equipment I am sure in the future.  I am quite excited.

Thanks a bunch Ken.

[Trevor Hale]

Leaving tonight to go make a final decision on the aircraft..  As I just found out, I also get to choose form this one as well.  (I really don't care about the condition of the paint, or the exterior...) The interior is most important to me.

I only get one, so I must choose wisely. 

I will be taking pictures of the one I select, and I will post here when I return.

[ETomlin]

Man, there for a minute I thought that was an older Citation Jet...and was thinking...I wonder how if Trev would be interested in CJ panels one day....Then I clicked on it and realized it's another turbo prop. Yay for some turbo prop sims!

[dharrison]

Forget the sim LOL, spend that money on some new engines and make a VFR Twin traininer!!!

But really cool look foward to watching this one take shape.

Don

[jskibo]

I only get one, so I must choose wisely. 

I will be taking pictures of the one I select, and I will post here when I return.

Get the one with the Garmin in it for me

Good luck, hope she's all you were hoping for.....

[jackpilot]

Make it a Beech 9

[Garys]

Jack, Thats awsome, absolutely love it! 

[Maurice]

Jack, Thats awsome, absolutely love it! 

Jack is training for a new career as a Photoshop specialist 

Maurice

[Trevor Hale]

Lol guys, your all hilarious. And I like jacks idea best. Rofl.

Just getting ready to leave the hotel, I am quite excited. But I don't want to get my hopes up yet. I still don't know what the insides look like. This trip may be a total waste.

Either way, I will know at 10:30am when I get to the airport.

Jskib... I will look for the garmin lol.

I will post pics as soon as I can.

Trev

[jackpilot]

Either way, I will know at 10:30am when I get to the airport.
I will post pics as soon as I can.
Trev

You better keep us posted...I am watching you from Europe right now with all our local members this side,

..all like a bunch of kids salivating and eager to see the new toy of Lill Trev. !!!

[jskibo]

They must have captured him.......


.....or that thing leavng the strange tracks in the snow on Maurice's driveway got to him 

[jackpilot]

Unless he took off with the shortie!

[Maurice]

Unless he took off with the shortie!

I don't think so. He's probably just licking it clean.

Maurice