The List

When you feel like you’re reaching the end of an airplane building project, as we are with the F1 that we’ve been building for a little over two years, it is time to start “The List.” You have probably gone through most of the pages in your build manual, and because most build manuals don’t have every single detail—because builders like to customize their airplanes—you probably have some things that you are still working on that might not appear in the manual. You’ve also probably got a mental list of things that you know you still have to do, things like a final brake bleeding, fixing that funny seam between the cowl and firewall, and oh yeah—that stripped screw that’s keeping you from finalizing your baggage compartment bulkhead installation. These are all things that go on “The List.”

The thing about the list is that you start off by writing down all of the open work that you think you have between now and final inspection. Then you start working off that list—but while doing that, you run into other things that you realize need to be added. So while you cross one thing off, you add two more—and the list grows. You keep working like this, and eventually you reach the point where you are crossing off more things than you are adding—that is progress! At some point, you figure out that everything on the list is marked “complete,” and you can’t think of anything more to add. This is when you invite some experienced builder friends over to add a few more things to your list—and the cycle continues.

I like to keep my list on a spreadsheet that I print out and tape to the fuselage where I can see it. I have a column for “things to do” and then I categorize them by when they have to be done. The F1 Rocket is going to be painted before inspection, so I have one column for “Before Paint,” another for “Before Inspection,” a third for “Before Flight” —and then a final column labeled “Whenever.”

The “Before Paint” items are finishing things that have to be ready when the painter arrives—things like filling fiberglass pinholes, cleaning up seams, and making sure everything fits. Remember—paint colors, it doesn’t fill! Things will come off for painting—things like control surfaces. So the “Before Inspection” column includes things like “final install ailerons.” I leave things like riveting down cockpit floors until after inspection. And of course, we have to weigh the airplane after paint and before inspection! Once the inspection is complete, we then work our way down the “Before Flight” column—those floors for instance. Floors are often structural in a monocoque fuselage. Final “Before Flight” items are updating databases and software, making sure that instruments are calibrated, and the engine has been checked over thoroughly—one last time. “Whenever” items are important to write down—but they are things you can do at any time. Upholstery? Do it now, do it later—it makes no difference as long as you have a place to sit. Armrest pads? Yeah … that can wait. Frankly, paint can wait (and usually does on my airplanes) unless you have a painter coming on a particular date!

I usually update my list with a pencil in the shop, and every couple of days I update it in the computer and print it back out—keeps the scribbling neat. Watching your list is rewarding and exciting—and it might just make you do those miserable tasks that you have been putting off. When they are staring at you from paper, they are hard to ignore.

Oh, when your list is all crossed out—congratulations! You get to have an inspection, fix any squawks from that, then get ready to fly—and that will generate an entirely new list. Lists are the one constant—and they are always with us!