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michaeldoornbos.com
michaeldoornbos.com
2019
Checking off bucket list items faster in the last year than any other time in my life. Royals spring training: checkoriginal ↗
10 Mar 2019
3 Mar 2019
When your friend calls and asks if you want to come check out a brand new Baron...you say yes.original ↗
2 Mar 2019
If we can get over the drama with the seller my trip across the country in the Baron next week will look something like this. #tigerbaronoriginal ↗
1 Mar 2019
Yeah these three fluted L angles took an hour. Funny how some parts fly by and others seem to take an afternoon. #myzenith750original ↗
24 Feb 2019
I have exactly one multi engine flight in my logbook. So the instructor thought my first simulator landing should be with the left engine out. Not too shabby. #pilotthuglifeoriginal ↗
15 Feb 2019
Didn’t take enough pictures but I put my first couple hours in a multi engine airplane in my logbook today. That body of water would be the Atlantic Ocean.original ↗
14 Feb 2019
6 Feb 2019
1 Feb 2019
26 Jan 2019
23 Jan 2019
View from my office today. Beautiful. Then a decent to minimums through this to a fogged in runway.original ↗
18 Jan 2019
Controller: “03G can you give me a condition report at your current location and altitude?” Me: “Approach, I can almost see half of a wing”original ↗
17 Jan 2019
Shop heater isn’t even close to keeping up with the cold temperatures but the work goes on. #myzenith750original ↗
12 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019
How to tell from your track log which of your flights today was instrument training. I don’t remember doing any loops... #foreflightoriginal ↗
7 Jan 2019
2018
19 Dec 2018
Got some news to be revealed next week. This is your clue. Special prize for anyone who guesses correctly. My parents and JMo clan are not eligible for guessing :)original ↗
18 Dec 2018
Just had dinner with SR 71 pilot Col Richard Graham. Now on to him telling us stories of the worlds fastest aircraft.original ↗
4 Dec 2018
23 Nov 2018
22 Nov 2018
Saw this cool trick by Jon Croke of homebuilthelp. When working with large aluminum sheets by yourself, it’s easier to roll them up. Reassembling this wing after all the deburring and prepped work to rivet. Then done with this one. #myzenith750original ↗
18 Nov 2018
I generally like metal work. Prep work is easier if you think “I get to” rather than “I have to”. #myzenith750original ↗
18 Nov 2018
Everyone waits until November and it’s in the low 40s before they power wash the deck right?original ↗
11 Nov 2018
Each spar has 101 holes to be drilled. Then again on the top. Then repeat for the other wing. Oh and since these are pilot holes that need to be expanded I’ll drill each of these holes 2 more times. 1212 holes drilled just for the wing spars. I fully understand the grin people have on their first flight. Gotta earn it. #soreshoulders #myzenith750original ↗
4 Nov 2018
One of the million things to do before the plane flies sometime next year is to come up with a flight test plan. It’s fairly daunting but turns out that EAA just released a guide book and flight test card set. Still seems super daunting but at least now I have an example framework to use. #myzenith750original ↗
22 Oct 2018
The most commonly asked question from experienced builders is how well the “match drilled holes” work out. The answer is “pretty good” with the exception of the skins. I had to deal with this on the fuselage in many areas and now the wing skins. #myzenith750original ↗
14 Oct 2018
I’m like a commercial for the ball jar company. This is not an unusual number of homemade things in the works at any given time for me. Any guesses?original ↗
13 Oct 2018
12 Oct 2018
12 Oct 2018
7 Oct 2018
Found out it’s extremely difficult to photograph a heads up display but I took a shot. Kinda see though. One of my side projects :)original ↗
2 Oct 2018
Started using Strides (app) to encourage new habits. My Sept report for 30 mins of moderate to vigorous exercise isn’t too shabby. There are 12 other habits I’m working on with similar success. Sept was a good month.original ↗
1 Oct 2018
Been probably 20 years since I burned myself with a soldering iron so I made sure this was a good one.original ↗
28 Sept 2018
Rear spar complete. That was more rivets than I thought. But the night is cool, the tunes are awesome. Next up is skinning the wing! #myzenith750original ↗
28 Sept 2018
I’m ready to put the skin on this wing. I guess this means I have to stop using the space between the ribs as an excuse for not putting all of these parts and tools away. #myzenith750original ↗
27 Sept 2018
Been chasing an electrical problem in my fuel system on my old Jeep for couple days. Found you you little bastard. Broken green wire no fuel.original ↗
24 Sept 2018
22 Sept 2018
21 Sept 2018
I’m thinking of becoming a weatherman. I called it almost exactly. The hurricane is passing over us right now. This far inland we have light rain one afternoon. Hardly even remarkable for a city that averages 40 inches of rainfall a year. I wonder what all the people in Asheville who hoarded bread, milk and gas are going to do with it all.original ↗
16 Sept 2018
11 Sept 2018
7 Sept 2018
Julie and I are going to have to alter our workout route. We’ve seen a bear in this location every day we been gone this way for about a week. He just ran from right to left 150 meters ahead. Going to start going the other way instead. #mountianlivingproblemsoriginal ↗
2 Sept 2018
I’m on a “playing the long game with long game kinda people” kick lately. Putting my money where my mouth is. #myzenith750original ↗
2 Sept 2018
1 Sept 2018
Even after hiking Julie has amazing hair. Great time with family we rarely get to see today.original ↗
31 Aug 2018
Inside from the shop for 20 minutes before I noticed I’ve got a rivet stuck to my magnetic Fitbit band. #myzenith750original ↗
28 Aug 2018
At GMU there’s a fantastic restaurant and playground right on the airfield. Anthony always pulls his Grumman Cheetah right up to the playground so kids can get a first hand experience.original ↗
25 Aug 2018
25 Aug 2018
I’ve gotten in the habit of working with sheet-metal with gloves on. Because when I don’t…original ↗
24 Aug 2018
Seems silly to work inside on a day like today. Covered porch for the win. Elli thinks computers are boring though.original ↗
23 Aug 2018
There’s actually more room in the garage with the Jeep (which needs some TLC) and lawn mower (and wing) than there was when the fuselage was in there.original ↗
18 Aug 2018
16 Aug 2018
6 planes came over and 30 or more people including several new/curious at our EAA cookout.original ↗
14 Aug 2018
Nosewheel and strut are done. Painted the strut a metallic black for now. It’ll go on the plane Tuesday when I swing by the hangar. #myzenith750original ↗
12 Aug 2018
On my bucket list is to fly an airplane I built myself to AirVenture in Oshkosh. If 2019 is the year for this, the clock is ticking. #myzenith750 #eaa #osh19original ↗
11 Aug 2018
Didn’t even over engineer the hole template for this. I have a CMC and could have made a jig but this was faster #myzenith750original ↗
11 Aug 2018
10 Aug 2018
6 Aug 2018
29 Jul 2018
27 Jul 2018