Sep 23, 2020
Elevator
- (38 hours)
Category: Empennage
10/04/2020
Finished up on the elevator by hooking up the trim tab and safety wire the piano hinge. Also had to install the grommet for the the trim wiring between the horizontal stab and the elevator
9/23/2020
I've been in my AQP training so I had to take time of from the build to study and get ready of fun filled training in Dallas.
I'm back with more on the elevator and the alignment with the Horizontal Stab. The plans call for a way of putting together and aligning the elevator but I happen to have an IA in the hangar next store to my new hangar. He has been kind enough to wander over and offer suggestions. The suggestion was to cleco together the elevator and do an initial check of the alignment. If reasonably close in alignment then to clamp the ends in line and make sure both sides don't twist and correct of they do. Then random rivet both sides on the upper and lower sides... removing the clamps to make sure all stays in line. It so far has stayed perfect.
THe leading egde will be last with a final check for alignment. (string and laser)
9/3/2020
More work on the elevator. The composite tips were a bit of work because the skin was already dimpled it made the drilling and counter sinking a bit sporty getting the alignment correct. Starting with leading edge of the tip and using the metal skin alignment notch as a center guide I alternated the drilling and counter sink working my way aft one hole at a time. To reinforce the composite when riveting to the skin I will be using rivet backs.
The inspection plate for the trim motor. The plans didn't call for dimple and counter sinking but the parts came with the holes set up for that so thats what I did.
9/2/2020
Completed the internal portions and started the skin process. Awkward by myself so I strapped to a rolling cart to check and the position to place the skins on.
The directions call for doing the top skin first and then temporarily attach to the horizontal stabilizer. There is an interesting internal rib on each side that I call a "floating rib" it does not attach to any internal structure, only the skin. I used a trick I saw from other builders to place the stabilizer on a large work bench to hold in place and stable. I can then put the elevator and make sure things line up.
8/27/2020
Worked the last few days on the elevator. i had to deal with incompletely punched rivet holes on a center spare channel but it all line up ok. Added rivnuts to the trim motor and test fitted to the elevator.
The hangar dog had other ideas than for me to work