Jul 31, 2023     Attach nut plates to right wing tip - (8 hours)       Category: Empennage

Drill, machine countersink, and rivet W-931 rib to wing tip. Attach 4-40 plate nuts to wing tip.

  Jul 29, 2023     Right wing tip - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Attach right aileron to wing and affix in the neutral position with the W-903 adjustment fixture. Fit right wing tip to wing and align with the aileron. Match drill the wing tip to the wing skin. Insert the W-916 tip rib into the tip and drill for rivets. Machine countersink tip rivet holes and rivet the rib tip. Insert the W-931 rib tip in place and adjust to fit the tip. Mark the rib location and bond the rib in place with thickened epoxy.

  Jul 28, 2023     Empennage intersection fairing - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Trim the empennage intersection fairing. Place the fairing on the fuselage and match drill through the fairing to the existing holes in the vertical and horizontal stabilizer and the fuselage.

  Feb 11, 2023     Elevator tips - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Attach left elevator tip. Drill and dimple right elevator tip. Cleco elevator tip. Ready to rivet.

  Nov 28, 2022     Fabricate Elevator Pushrod - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Install F-635 bell crank. Fabricate F-790 pushrod. Mount the pushrod to the bell crank and elevator horns. With the elevator counterweights pinned to the horizontal stabilizer tips adjust the pushrod length by screwing in each rod end bearing until the bell crank is vertical. Tighten each rod end bearing jam nut. Remove the pushrod and store.

  Nov 27, 2022     Fit Horizontal Stabilizer to Fuselage - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

Finish shaping HS-908L and R attach angles. Rivet angles to front horizontal stabilizer spar. Clamp the horizontal stabilizer to the fuselage and align it perpendicular to the longitudinal axis by measuring distance from each tip to the corner of the firewall. Measured distance for both 153 1/16". Drill the attach angles to the longerons and F710B angle. Fabricate the F-798 shims and slip them between the attach angles and the longerons. Raise the rear horizontal stabilizer spar using an 11/32" drill bit for a spacer. Clamp the rear spar to the F-711C bars and drill the attach holes. Measure again the distances from each horizontal stabilizer tip and the firewall corner. Left measures 152 7/8" and right measure 153 1/8".

  Nov 23, 2022     Drill Elevator Horns - (3 hours)       Category: Empennage

Fit elevators to horizontal stabilizer and pin in trail by clamping to the stabilizer tips. Measure the space between the elevator horns and create an aluminum spacer on the lathe that exactly fits between the horns and a #30 hole through the center. Remove the left elevator and drill a #30 pilot hole in the horn shown in DWG 27A. Remount the left elevator and clamp the counterweight arm to the stabilizer. Insert the aluminum spacer and align its hole with the pilot hole in the elevator horn. Drill through the spacer into the right elevator. Remove the spacer and enlarge both horn holes to full size. Measure the full up and full down elevator deflection.

  Nov 23, 2022     Fit elevators to stabilizer - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Install rod end bearings on right and left elevators. Attach right elevator to horizontal stabilizer and lock position in trail. Make a drill bushing to fit inside VA-146 central bearing. Drill elevator horn to central bracket. Remove right elevator and mount left elevator and lock position in trail. Drill elevator horn to central bracket. Remove left elevator. Enlarge to 1/4" both elevator horn to central bracket mounting holes.

  Nov 11, 2022     Fit tail wheel mount and rear bulkhead - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Expand fuselage mousehole for tail spring mount WD-409. Bolt WD-409 to F-711. Fit rear bulkhead F-712 to fuselage and WD-409. Cleco and ready to rivet.

  Jul 13, 2022     Cut Trim Tab Rod - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Cut the trim tab actuating rode and verify travel up and down.

  Jul 13, 2022     Mount Trim Servo Motor - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Attach trim servo motor to mounting brackets and cover plate.

  Jul 11, 2022     Assemble Trim Tab - (2.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet the lower trim tab spar and bottom trim tab skin. Glue two foam ribs inside trim tab skin with Proseal. Rivet the top trim tab spar, hinge, and top trim tab skin. Place trim tab in V-blocks.n

  Jul 10, 2022     Left Elevator & Trim Tab - (10 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet gusset, bottom skin to elevator spar. Rivet bottom skin to elevator trim spar. Match drill bottom elevator skin and trailing edge to the top skin. Deburr and dimple the trailing edge skin and machine countersink the trailing edge. Match drill, deburr, and dimple overlapping skin stiffeners outboard of the trim tab. Apply proseal to trailing edge and cleco trailing edge and upper and lower skins to a match drilled stiffener angle. Match drill hinge to upper elevator spar. Trim trim tab horns for electric trim. Bend trim tab ends to close the trim tab inboard and outboard ends. Match drill bottom trim tab skin and trim tab spar, and top trim tab skin, hinge, and trim tab spar. Deburr and dimple trim tab skins and lower trim tab spar. Machine countersink the upper trim tab spar. Rivet the trim tab horns to the lower trim tab skin Trim two foam ribs to fit within trim tab and scuff the aluminum in preparation prior to installing the ribs.

  Jul 08, 2022     Rivet Left Elevator - (8 hours) Category: Empennage

Deburr and dimple elevator spar, counterbalance ribs, root rib, trim tab spar, and skin, Back rivet stiffeners to top skin. Rivet top skin to spar, counterbalance to spar, and control horn to spar. Back rivet stiffeners to bottom skin. Rivet trim reinforcement plate to bottom skin.

  Jul 07, 2022     Begin Assembling Left Elevator - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

Cleco left elevator skin to elevator spar, trim tab spar, counterbalance assembly, and root spar. Match drill all holes. Begin riveting counterbalance assembly.

  Jul 06, 2022     Bend Elevator Trim Skin - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Create bending brake on workbench. Bend elevator trim skin to fit foam ribs and plywood clamps.

  Jul 06, 2022     Rivet Right Elevator Trailing Edge - (2.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet right elevator trailing edge.

  Jul 05, 2022     Create Elevator Trim Rib and Clamp - (1.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Cut two elevator trim tab clamps from 3/4" plywood. Cut two elevator trim tab ribs from supplied foam. Both ribs left long on forward edge.

  Jul 03, 2022     Rivet Right Elevator Trailing Edge - (1.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Apply proseal to trailing edge wedge and cleco skins and trailing edge to angle stiffener.

  Jul 02, 2022     Rivet Right Elevator - (7.5 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet stiffeners to top and bottom right elevator skin. Rivet top and bottom elevator skin to spar. Rivet elevator outer rib to spar. Partially rivet elevator skin to inboard and outboard ribs. Match drill trailing edge wedge to trailing edge elevator skin. Dimple trailing edge skin and machine countersink trailing edge wedge. Deburr and clean skin and wedge surfaces. Ready to proseal wedge and trailing edge.

  Jun 29, 2022     Right Elevator Skeleton - (3 hours) Category: Empennage

Deburr and dimple right elevator skin, ribs, and spar. Rivet counterbalance ribs and skins. Rivet elevator horn to spar and inboard rib.

  Jun 28, 2022     Right Elevator & Rudder - (5 hours) Category: Empennage

Match drill right elevator skin, spar, and ribs. Ready to deburr and dimple. Form the rudder leading edge, match drill, deburr and rivet. Rudder complete except for tip.

  Jun 27, 2022     Rivet rudder trailing edge - (2 hours)       Category: Empennage

Clean proseal from rudder trailing edge rivet holes. Rivet rudder trailing edge using a hand squeezer with dies ground to match the rudder trailing edge angle.

  Jun 25, 2022     Begin building right elevator - (6 hours) Category: Empennage

Assemble left and right elevator counterbalance arms; match drill, debur, and dimple parts. Dimple right elevator skin for stiffeners. Assemble right elevator skeleton and cleco to right elevator skin.

  Jun 24, 2022     Rivet rudder trailing edge and skin to ribs - (4.7 hours)       Category: Empennage

Clean rudder trailing edge and skin. Attach trailing edge with proseal and cleco to supporting angle. Rivet rudder skins to ribs. Flute left and right elevator wing tip ribs and fit counterbalance skin.

  Jun 23, 2022     Rivet rudder skeleton and skin - (5 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet rudder skeleton and install rudder counterweight. Rivet rudder skin to spar only. Defer riveting rudder skin to ribs until after the trailing edge has been completed.

  Jun 22, 2022     Prepare rudder skins and trailing edge - (2.5 hours) Category: Empennage

Dimple rudder skins. Machine countersink trailing edge. Fit rudder counterweight to counterweight rib. Fabricate counterweight hold down strap.

  Jun 21, 2022     Match drill and deburr rudder - (2.5 hours) Category: Empennage

Match drill rudder skins and skeleton. Deburr holes and dimple ribs.

  Jun 19, 2022     Rivet VS skin, assemble rudder - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet VS skin to VS spar and ribs. Rivet rudder stiffeners to rudder skins. Cleco rudder skins to skeleton. Ready to match drill.

  Jun 18, 2022     Assemble Vertical Stabilizer - (6.5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet VS spar, doubler, ribs, hinge brackets. Cleco VS skin to spar and ribs.

  Jun 17, 2022     Build Vertical Stabilizer - (3.3 hours) Category: Empennage

Flute ribs. Cleco front and rear spars, spar doubler, ribs, hinge brackets. Match drill and debur all holes.

  Jun 09, 2022     Match drill right elevator skin and skin stiffeners - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

Match drill right elevator skin and skin stiffeners. Mount the C-Frame to allow clearance to dimple elevator skins.

  Jun 09, 2022     Prep right elevator skin - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

Remove blue film from rivet lines and cleco skin stiffeners to skin in preparation to match drill.

  Jun 07, 2022     Start Rudder Skeleton - (4 hours) Category: Empennage

Cleco and match drill rudder skeleton up to attaching the rudder skins. Still awaiting tape before back riveting the stiffeners to the rudder skins.

  Jun 07, 2022     Finished HS - (1.25 hours) Category: Empennage

Pictures did not upload on previous entry

  Jun 07, 2022     Finished riveting hs - (1.25 hours) Category: Empennage

Finished riveting hs

  Jun 06, 2022     Rivet HS skins to ribs and rear spar - (4.5 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet HS skins to ribs and rear spar

  Jun 05, 2022     Rivet HS skin to forward spar - (1.5 hours) Category: Empennage

Completed riveting left and right HS skin to forward spar.

  Jun 04, 2022     Rivet HS skin to front spar - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet HS skin to front spar.

  Jun 04, 2022     Rivets Category: Empennage

  Jun 04, 2022     Rivet he skin Category: Empennage

  May 23, 2022     Rivet front HS spar to nose ribs - (2 hours) Category: Empennage

Rivet front HS spar to nose ribs.

  May 22, 2022     Prepare to rivet HS skin to spars, - (4 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet mid span ribs to front HS spar. Cleco front spar to skin. Ready to rivet

  May 21, 2022     countersinking, nose ribs, elevator trim access plate - (12 hours)       Category: Empennage

Machine countersink both horizontal spars. Rivet elevator nose ribs to skin. Dimple left elevator skin. Countersink and Install nut plates on elevator trim access panel.

  May 18, 2022     Elevator, rudder preparaton - (5 hours)       Category: Empennage

Drill and debur elevator and rudder spars. Debur and cleco rudder skin stiffeners.

  May 17, 2022     Empennage assembly - (6 hours)       Category: Empennage

Rivet front horizontal spar. Cleco the rear spar and ready to rivet.

  May 16, 2022     Empennage parts preparation - (5 hours) Category: Empennage

Finished match drilling rib and spars. Disassemble ribs, spars, hinge brackets. Deburr all holes and edges.

  May 15, 2022     Horizontal Stab - (6 hours) Category: Empennage

Cleco forward and rear horizontal stab spars and ribs. Match drill ribs, elevator hinge brackets, doubler.

  May 14, 2022     Received Kit-Inventory - (4 hours) Category: Empennage

Received empennage. Performed kit inventory. All parts accounted for except vertical stab spar back ordered.