Jim Murray and Pat McLaughlin have been working on phase 2 of the project for several months now. We have only just gotten around to adding them to the “team” page on the web site. Patrick is the owner of Mountain High, which makes the best oxygen systems available...

We pressurised a test window for the first time today. We ran it up to the full design pressure although we did not test the (higher) proof pressure. There were no leaks and no problems with the window. I expect we will find that the window is unbreakable. The test...

The rebreather oxygen system has been tested in a simple form. Jim Murray has put together a re-configurable system using simple plumbing parts. This allows us to test different configurations to work out which is best. The tests were very encouraging. The CO2...

The first plug was given its first coat of epoxy today. The glistening covering makes it look like a beached whale, complete with dorsal fin and even a blowhole, thanks to the single remaining alignment hole. The epoxy will cure overnight and then we can do more...

I have gained a new title on the project: Master of Imperfections. It’s my job to insert some little stuff-ups into the fabrication of the window test unit. This is actually a valid test method used in the aerospace industry. When you are testing the full lifetime of...

The first fuselage plug is now all bonded (glued) together. The first two blocks of foam were levelled to within a hundredth of an inch – less than the thickness of a piece of paper. This makes a perfectly flat foundation for the other blocks. This is also the...