May 12, 2024     Tunnel - (6 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Now working on the forward lower fuselage.

Photo 1 - Primed several small parts for the next steps

Photo 2 - This is the horizonal part of the firewall, made of stainless steel

Photo 3 - This is the lower, vertical part of the firewall, also in stainless steel

Photo 4 - This is the floor where my and my passengers feet will be. The tunnel down the middle must be for engine stuff like fuel lines.

Photo 5 - I found it easier to rivet the nutplates on with the assembly upside down.

Photo 6 - Now the assembly is complete with the walls of the tunnel rivetted to the floor.

  Apr 27, 2024     Completion of Section 21 of the Build Manual - (10 hours)       Category: Fuselage

OK this was a chunk of work

Photo 1 - The fuselage is upside down, ready for installation of the bottom skin

Photo 2 - Bottom skin clecoed to the substructure

Photo 3 - Bottom skin, plus 10 reinforcing doublers, rivetted to the substructure

Photo 4&5 - Horizontal step floors attached to the substructure

Photo 6 - Baggage bulkhead attached to the substructure

Now section 21 of the build manual is complete. Next is on to the forward lower fuselage

  Apr 27, 2024     Bottom Skin - (5 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Photo 1 - Saturday morning, I'm going to tackle the bottom skin today

Photo 2 - Bottom skin now clecoed to the substructure frame

Photo 3 - Added 10 reinforcing plates and 6 brackets. These add strength to the build but it was tricky adding them and priming their matching surfaces on the skin. Finally I rivetted the entire bottom skin to the substructure. Long day but very satisfying.

  Apr 20, 2024     Step Ribs and skins - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Now continuing with the fuselage

Photo 1 - These are the step ribs

Photo 2 - Attaching the step ribs to their bulkhead

Photo 3 - Attaching the whole assembly to the fuselage

Photo 4 - Flipped the fuselage upside down for the next step

Photo 5 - This is the beginning of the bottom skin

  Apr 14, 2024     Seating Rib Bulkhead       Category: Fuselage

Photo 1 - Adding bracing to this bulkhead for stiffness.

Photo 2 - This is the end of the bulkhead where the front stub spare of the wing will be inserted

Photo 3 - This opening is reinforced with a doubler.

Photo 4 - Now riveting the bulkhead to the seat ribs.

  Apr 07, 2024     Seating Structure to Center Section Bulkhead - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Now starting to make some good visual progress on the fuselage

Photo 1&2 - Attaching the seat floors to the seat ribs. Hard to believe this will actually support my full body weight.

Photo 3&4 - Attaching the seating structure to the Center Section Bulkhead. The second pic is an action shot by my lovely wife Rosa.

  Apr 02, 2024     Seating Support Structure - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Photo 1 - Assembly of the ribs that will go beneath the seats

Photo 2 - Working on the floor panels that will go on the same ribs

  Mar 23, 2024     Seating Substructure - (6 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Photo 1 - Blending mechanisms for the flaps

Photo 2 - Many small parts that have been prepared and primed

Photo 3 - These are the supports that will go under the seating area

Photo 4 - Attaching small parts to the seating substructure

  Mar 23, 2024     ccccccrjeigvlkdnbtgufnflevvlbdirkhllbbkuhbnk Category: Fuselage

  Mar 03, 2024     Luggage Substructure - (4 hours)       Category: Fuselage

Photo 1 - Matching the wing forward spar to the receptacle that will receive it in the fuselage

Photo 2 - Preparation of more parts for the luggage substructure

Photo 3 - Assembly of the wing forward spar receptacle

Photo 4 - Assembly of the end cap of the luggage substructure