Jul 15, 2023     H-stab spar - (4.0 hours)       Category: Tail Feathers

I started this session by stripping off the blue vinyl from all of the Horizontal Stabilizer parts, and then deburring the holes and edges of the spar and its doubler plate. A number of holes in the doubler had to be match drilled and final drilled against the spar. A couple holes needed to be machine-countersunk to allow flush rivets to later be installed there. Then a final scuffing of both of these parts with a scotch-brite pad, wipedown with alcohol, and then a quick coat of spray self-etching primer.

Next, the powder-coated hinge brackets had to be clecoed and final-drilled against the spar as well. The instructions recommended doing a scuffing of the hinge brackets if you plan to eventually paint them, so I did that as well. Then I could begin riveting the doubler plate and these hinge brackets to the spar using solid rivets and my hand squeezer.

Finally, another pair of power-coated brackets needed to be final drilled with a bearing that would be installed between them. After a quick debur, these brackets could be riveted to the bearing with the hand squeezer as well. Then the assembled bracket needed to be bolted to the spar using some AN-bolts, washers, and nuts.

What's next? I need to final torque the bolts on that last bracket, and then begin working on prepping more parts for the H-stab. I probably need to start packeting for my Oshkosh trip this week as well.