December 18, 2008 ... I am in the final stages of skinning the left wing, and reached a point where I needed to be able
lift and turn my wing over. I was depending on my son to assist me, but he is not always available when I need the help. That
has slowed my building process at times. So, I decided to install a couple electric hoists (one at each end of my worktable),
and I fabricated a simple lifting bracket with an eyebolt that attaches to the inboard end of the wing spar. The photo
to the left shows the type of hoist I am using. I purchased these from Harbor Freight (Item # 44006-0VGA). I picked these up
on sale for $119.00 each.
The eyebolt on the bracket swivels. I simply attach a hoist to the eyebolt. A family member operates
the hoist. I support and lift the outboard end of the wing, until there is enough clearance to turn the wing over. We then gently
lower the wing down moving the padded support blocks into place. It's very easy and anyone can help regardless of their strength.
You
don't really need a hoist set-up to build a Sonex if you have someone available to help you lift the assembled components. But I felt
it was worth spending the money for some extra peace of mind. I have a lot of money (and hours) invested in my project now
and I wanted to eliminate the potential risks of damage that exist each time the wing is turned over..
Double-click on photos to enlarge.
