Steve Cole's Polished UltraCruiser

Steve Cole - Grand Champion - Ultralight

George Hilton's Highly Polished UC - 2021

Steve Cole - Wing Tip

Steve Cole - aft wing root fairing

Due to the high polish, it is nearly impossible to correctly interpret what you are seeing! At the wing juncture, to the left you think you see grass and the landing gear ... BUT you are seeing the reflection on the lower fuselage. Also, the wing root fairing has confusing reflections.

Steve Cole - Landing Gear

Steve Cole - Engine and Motor Box

Underview of the engine and motor box ... the doubler at the far lower right

Steve Cole - Ultra Cruiser Belly

Very hard to see ... this is the bottom view of the rails and the leading edges of both wings. One can see the fairing. At the top, a small portion of the landing gear and pitot tube ... see more in the reflection. This wing skin goes under the bottom rail ... correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Steve Cole - Ultra Cruiser Belly and bottom rails

One can also see the right horizontal stabilizer. Ignore the grass and search for aircraft parts!

Steve Cole - landing gear

Shows now the gear is "tied" to the wing (externally anyway).

Steve Cole - Steve Adkins

Selfie in an attempt to photograph the wing's bottom surface.

Steve Cole - Gap cover available from Hummel Aviation

Very slick method of dealing the the gap between the outer wing panel and the center wing.

Steve Cole - Carbon Tail Cone

Also, a good view of the elevator, horizontal stab, and parts of the vertical stab and rudder ... though again, reflections make it difficult to "see" the rudder. For a plane like this ... I would like to see better tie-down stakes!

Steve Cole - aft wing root fairing

The aft fuselage is virtually invisible due to the reflection of the grass and photographer. Nice view of the step and "NO STEP" sign. NOTE: anti-skid material was attached BEFORE riveting to structure. Good idea!

Steve Cole - Belly

Under view of the wing root fairing both top and bottom surfaces

Steve Cole - Spinner and 1/2 VW Casler Engine

Steve Cole - Engine and wing juncture

Steve Cole - Engine

Motor box is visible behind and under the very nice carbon spinner.

Steve Cole - aft fuselage and wing root fairing

Steve Cole - wing step

Note: anti-skid material installed before riveting.

Steve Cole - Ultra Cruiser 3-quarter view

Steve Cole - Top of rudder and vertical stab

Note access hole for installing hinge bolt. A close view of the flush riveting.

Steve Cole - Top of Vertical Stab

Horizontal Stab and elevator visible.

Steve Cole - Aileron and wing tip

Nice view ... ignore the tent image and photographer.

Steve Cole - horizontal stab and tail cone

... also Elevator and bottom of the Rudder

Steve Cole - skin junction

I like this photo which shows: crimped-edge, junction of 4 skins, flush pop rivets (dimpled not countersunk), and of course the incredible polish; thus, the selfie of my camera.

Steve Cole - Wing Tip?

I assume we are seeing the juncture of 4 skins overlapping where the wing tip joins the wing (looking from the aft of the wing). One can see the tent reflected in the wing distorting the image. Aaaagh!

Steve Cole - Full View

Grand Champion - Ultra Cruiser ... high polish and excellent workmanship. .016 aluminum is to thin to polish without fear of dents and kinks. The polish was achieved by polishing the alumunum BEFORE cutting and assembly of the parts.