







 Working
on Chapter 19
updated: 09/05/2022
Disclaimer
and Contact Info
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Welcome to Kevin Dove's Website
Member of SAAA, Chapter 24
Cozy Plans No. 1372
“When once you have tasted
flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward,
for there
you have been, and there you will always long to return.” -
Leonardo da Vinci
This website is not
a full record or account of every step to be followed during the building of a
Cozy aircraft. There are many websites by other builders, who have done or are
doing a far better job than I could ever do. This site is just an attempt to show or record, as accurately
as possible, that I built at least 51% of this aircraft and to also share some
of my experiences along the way with other builders. The hours listed in the Chapter logs are only very rough
estimates of actual time spent working on the project. I have not kept a precise
hourly timesheet and have only kept track of elapsed time, which to me is a more
meaningful guide to overall progress.
I will be building as per the plans and do
not have any intentions, at this stage anyway, of making any major
modifications. I would like to
install during the build process some improvements recommended in the Cozy
newsletters, like the electric speed brake actuator, electric nose lift and
electric pitch trim. I will also be
looking at changing the hinge arrangement for the canopy, so that it opens
forward and not to the right hand side, making it easier for the passengers to
get in and out of the aircraft from both sides, without walking over the seats.
I feel that these items are easier to install now, rather
than trying to upgrade later.
Based in Australia and obtaining materials is
going to be a little challenging and from conversations I’ve had with other
Aussie builders, who have already completed LongEze or VariEze projects, they
all advise that the most cost effective approach is to arrange one large
shipment from Spruce or Wicks, covering all chapters. The value of the Aussie dollar against the Greenback has
improved greatly over the last couple years, making this option a little more
attractive. From what I have been told even with import duties, taxes and
shipping on top of the material cost, you are still way in front by importing
from the States. There are a couple
components like the Landing gear bow from FeatherLite and the canopy from
Airplane Plastics, which I would like to include in my shipment. Coordinating all these extra bits to be included in one big consignment
from the States might be a little difficult to arrange, but I will cross that
bridge when the time comes. A
little about myself
I
live and work
in Perth,
Western Australia,
and have wanted to build an aircraft for many years, even before I learnt to
fly. I spent many hours deliberating on the correct and more
sensible approach to building my own aircraft.
I basically had 2 chooses build first and then learn to fly, or learn to
fly first and then build the plane. After
some peculiar looks from people when discussing these options, I eventually
decided, I would put building the Cozy on the back burner for 2 years, whilst I
allocated the time and finances to obtaining my PPL. Picking the Cozy Mark IV was always a no-brainer
for me, as there just isn’t anything out there that comes close to the performance,
overall cost to build and the wow factor of this aircraft.
I do all my flying from
Jandakot
Airport and learnt to fly through one of the local
flying schools based at Jandakot, Phoenix
Aviation. I
obtained my Private Pilots License back in March 2004. I have since completed a Constant Speed Prop and Retract Endorsement and
would like to add a Night VFR Rating to my license as well. I learnt to fly in an
Eagle
150, mainly because it had a joystick and a Canard
wing and was the closest thing I could find to a Cozy to fly in, just not as
fast or as sexy. I moved onto
Cessna’s out of necessity to complete the navigation part of my license and I
can honestly say that I cannot wait to have something a little faster and more
comfortable to fly cross-country in.
Personal
Interests
-
Flying whenever I can find the time and money
-
Sea Kayaking and fishing when I don’t have the money to fly
-
From a previous life working in the IT industry, I still enjoy messing
around with computers
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Building my own aircraft should now be added to the list, as I don’t
think I’m going to have much time to
do any of the above, once I start.
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