Jan 05, 2014     Left Stabilator - (10 hours)       Category: Empennage

Repeated the steps for the left elevator to install skin and trim the tip and fabricate the tip rib. Tail surfaces complete. Before moving on to the wings, I drilled, countersunk and installed the nut-plates to hold the tips to the stabilator. On to the wings!

  Dec 17, 2013     Stabilator tips - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

The fiberglass tips supplied with the kit are blanks and are made to be long. I trimmed the inboard end so that the trailing edge of the tip is even with the trailing edge of the the ruddervator. I also constructed a tip rib for the aft end of the tip to cover the hollow space that is visible when the ruddervator is deflected. I used a plywood blank and bent the metal around the blank.

  Nov 21, 2013     Skinned right stabilator - (8 hours)       Category: Empennage

Up drilled the right stabilator skin. Dimpled the frame and skin in preparation for riveting. Made a frame for the C- frame dimpler and carpeted it and used it to dimple the center holes in the skin. Riveted most of the skin on, leaving a some rivets out till the stabilator is attached to the fuselage. Also potted the total energy probe in aluminum oxide epoxy and attached the three hoses. Right stabilator complete.

  Nov 08, 2013     Total energy probe - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Bent .025 aluminum around a 1/2” bolt to construct to construct the fitting to hold the total energy probe. Attached the fitting using aluminum filled epoxy.

  Nov 07, 2013     Stabilator skin-right - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Attached the pre-drilled skin to the stabilator frame after blue lining the ribs. Started with the bottom and aligned the trailing edge of the skin with the rear spar. Drilled and clecoed the bottom of the skin, flipped it over and used a padded 2X4 to press the upper skin down and back against the upper ribs. Pilot drilled and clecoed the skin to the frame. Pilot drilled the piano hinge by using the pre drilled holes in the top aft of the skin. Assembly is ready for final drilling and deburring. I had to remake the small filler skin at the top aft of the stabilator because the pre drilled holes didn't line up.

  Oct 29, 2013     Right stabilator frame - (3 hours)       Category: Empennage

Finished riveting the right stabilator frame including the Total Energy Probe and grommets through the ribs.

  Oct 28, 2013     Right stabilator - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Started the right stabilator. This stabilator contains the total energy probe and associated tubing. Pilot drilled and clecoed the ribs to the spar. Used wood blocks screwed to the table to keep everything straight.

  Oct 25, 2013     Finished left stabilizer - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Finished left stabilizer. Starting on the right.

  Oct 23, 2013     Left stabilator - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Assembled the left stabilator and drilled all holes with #40 bit. Used 2 X 4 blocks to keep everything straight.

  Sep 20, 2013     Stabilizer spar - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Assembled, clamped and pilot drilledleft forwardstabilator spar. Installed Cleo's.

  Sep 18, 2013     Stabilizer ribs - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Continued fabricating and finishing stabilizer ribs. Finished the ribs. Spars next.

  Sep 13, 2013     Stabilizer rib prep - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Continued to fabricate, drill, smooth and debur stabilizer ribs.

  Sep 09, 2013     Stabilizer spar and rib prep - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

  Aug 25, 2013     Stabilizers - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Bent the root ribs and attachment brackets with the arbor press and 2”x4” form block and cut and deburred and smoothed the root rib clips with the scotch brite wheel.