By Steve Cameron, EAA 873848
This piece originally ran in the October 2023 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
I recently finished Phase I flight testing of my Just Aircraft Highlander. I wanted an airplane with folding wings so I could store it affordably (the local hangar lists are many years long), so I researched the Kitfox and various Just Aircraft models. Ultimately, since I am of Scottish descent, there was almost no question that a Highlander was the right choice, but an exciting demo flight with Steve Henry sealed the deal. I put the Cameron tartan on the tail and the Scottish flag on the wings.
I wanted to spend many of my remaining flying years flying instead of building, so I used a build-assist program recommended when I bought my kit. Many thanks to Rich Kimble of Snake River Bush Planes for his many unique mods, his extreme patience while ensuring the quality of my work, and the great paint job. I also had a few excellent EAA Technical Counselor visits by Jim Huber, EAA 112970, right at the start of the build, which provided some critical inputs that saved rework down the road. It took 48 calendar weeks across two years (thanks, COVID!), but after countless UPS deliveries from Aircraft Spruce and sometimes daily visits to Tacoma Screw in Twin Falls, Idaho (where I built the airplane), I’m very happy with the final result.
Engine selection was perhaps the most important choice I made. I chose a used Yamaha engine from an Apex snowmobile. It is a normally aspirated, electronic fuel-injection engine capable of generating 160 hp. There are quite a few of these flying now, and the early adopters have ironed out many of the issues and built reliable components that make this engine safe for aviation. The SkyTrax 3.48-to-1 gearbox reduces engine rpm as high as 10,000 to normal prop rpm. I use an engine harness and engine display from BD Turnkey Engines that replaces the OEM electronic control unit with one that uses an oxygen sensor and other inputs to tune the engine for max horsepower at any particular altitude.
When I started this project, I had a slightly cynical view of the experimental amateur-built program being billed for “educational” purposes. But I have to say that is probably the most important aspect of the build for me. While I most likely won’t use this knowledge on another kit, it definitely makes me safer since I’ve never known as much about any airplane I’ve ever flown. For instance, tuning the engine configuration to handle oil aeration at sustained high rpm introduced me to the universe of dry sump oil systems.
As other light-sport aircraft builders can testify, finding training was difficult and building time in the exact model was nearly impossible for someone in my area. I flew in a Citabria with Tom Rogers, EAA 492020, at Olde Thyme Aviation in Bremerton to get re-current in tailwheel landings. I was fortunate enough to find a Highlander-experienced CFI, Grant Smith, who flew the first 10 hours with me until I met the insurance minimums. This turned out to be a godsend because, after confirming reliable operation for the first few hours, we started hitting all the local private grass strips in the area, meeting Grant’s friends. It was almost like barnstorming — dropping into a pasture runway next to a house, being given a friendly greeting, and showing off the airplane. I even visited one farm that had Highland (Scottish) cattle. This is local aviation at its best.
I used the EAA Flight Test Manual and Flight Test Cards for my Phase I testing. I have a background in military flight testing but still used those cards because they do a great job of ensuring you hit all the right things in the correct and safest order. The low inertia and small speed range of my airplane required some adaptation, but it was still a great framework to double-check that I’d touched all the bases.
Now that I’ve finished Phase I, I’ve been exploring the sights here in the Pacific Northwest, from landing on the beach at the ocean (legally, at S16) to visiting grass strips in the mountains. I’m really enjoying the flying and greatly appreciate the assistance provided by the national EAA organization, my local EAA Chapter 441, and my fellow Highlander builder/owners via our online forum.
Attention — Aircraft Builders and Restorers
We would love to share your story with your fellow EAA members in the pages of EAA Sport Aviation magazine, even if it’s a project that’s been completed for a while. Readers consistently rate the “What Our Members are Building/Restoring” section of the magazine as one of their favorites, so don’t miss the chance to show off your handiwork and inspire your peers to start or complete projects of their own. Learn more ->