Title: Attaching left OBLE
Tonight I started the steps to attach the left Outboard Leading Edge to the left wing. The first step was to cleco it into place and verify it was fitting properly, and like the right side I found that the 2nd rib needed its notches to be trimmed a little more to fit around the steps of the main spar better. So I used a Dremel cutoff wheel and some needle files to widen the notch. The instructions provided by Vans for this trimming dimension might possibly need to be increased--or perhaps I was just too conservative in how much I was removing during that step. After verifying everything was fitting together correctly, I installed the blind rivets that hold the OBLE ribs to the spar web, and then squeezed the flush rivets that hold the OBLE skin to the spar flanges. Then I pulled out the pneumatic rivet gun and installed the handful of solid rivets that hold the innermost OBLE rib flange to the spar web--a couple of these rivets challenged me and required more than one attempt to set properly, but I prevailed here. The only rivets remaining for the OBLE are the ones on the top-side skin, which will again require another person to help me set. So I started test fitting the Dynon pitot tube to try to decide where I wanted to install it. The rib bay closest to where Vans recommends their pitot tube be installed looks like it would work, though a few other Vans builders seem to also like putting in further outboard, to avoid putting too much in the same rib bay where the aileron pushrod brackets go. More investigation will be required before I commit to a location, it seems. What's next? I think I'll definitely be ordering the engine and prop next. I also need to get a riveting buddy to help me finish this OBLE.


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