3/6/22 – 1.0h
The primary internal wing structure is complete, so on to the top skins! This section of the plans is only four pages long and consists of attaching 5 parts to each wing. The previous section of the plans was also just four pages and 8 parts, which took nearly 40 hours to complete! I won't get trapped into thinking short = quick!
I did not see any Service Bulletins, Notifications and Letters, or Revisions and Changes for this section on the Van's support page that would change the plans or parts I received in the wing kit. My review of the plans for this section revealed a couple interesting items. First is the requirement to remove some material thickness from the leading edges of the top skins where they mate so that when joined, they are the same thickness as the 0.032” fuel tank skin. That will be a file, sand, fit, and repeat process until the parts fit together nicely at the right thickness. The other item of note is the long and short J-Stiffeners that were prepared a few steps ago are inserted into the assembly at this point and riveted to the top skins. That will require a look back at the previous section to make sure I get them oriented correctly. It also seems strange to rivet the skins to the ribs first, then insert the J-Stiffeners and rivet them last. I'll have to look at that closer to see if I can figure out why that is the order of those steps in the plan.