After thoroughly inspecting the airplane, the builder's log (this site) and other documentation, moments ago, Charlie Cotton, the FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR), entered and signed his approval in the aircraft log, then issued the Form 8130-7 Airworthiness Certificate shown below, and the airplane is now legal to fly! I'm happy to report Mr. Cotton was very complimentary, saying he really enjoyed inspecting the plane. I'll write more about this and what comes next later on, when I calm down. For now, I'm just ecstatic -- and it's a great day!

Had another three hour inspection today by Jim Cone, the local volunteer EAA Technical Advisor. In addition to having an engineering background, Jim has built four airplanes, is very knowledgeable, and extremely meticulous. I'm happy to report that with the exception of only a few suggestions for minor, non-critical improvements -- 254R passed again with flying colors. This was Jim's second detailed inspection of 254R -- the first was in March, '08 -- and I hope to have one more session with him before the final FAA inspection. Whenever possible, every builder should take advantage of this invaluable service, more than once, at multiple stages of their project.

Here it is, the let-it-all-hang-out TO-DO list. Once daunting, now manageable and, as progress is recorded, good for the psyche and soul.   

The most recently posted version is from JUNE 18, 2010:

Today I had my first technical inspection. Local volunteer EAA Technical Advisor Jim Cone generously spent nearly three hours with me going over the airplane in meticulous detail, pointing out issues I might want to consider, things I might want to change, and the like. I had prepared several questions of my own. Jim, who is about to start his fourth (!) airplane project, is very knowledgeable, and had lots of helpful suggestions. Overall, he thought it was well done. There was only one thing he thought should be fixed. The engine mount bolts to the firewall were only showing one complete thread past the nut, and most standards require at least a thread and a half. There are a couple of ways that might be fixed, so I'll have to ponder it a bit.