Installing JD Air Canopy Latch

One of the common modifications to RVs is the aftermarket JD AIr canopy latch. The stock latch, while simple, light, and functional, is not esthetically pleasing in both the exterior and interior. The JD Air latch is completely flush on the exterior, looks beefy and heavy duty on the interior and has a more positive locking feel. Installing the latch on a QB RV-14 fuselage involves drilling out 8 rivets to remove the lower latch bracket, cutting larger openings in the skin to accommodate the latch, then drilling and dimpling new holes for the lower backet in its new lower location. The tough part is getting the cutouts correctly sized and correctly positioning the lower bracket in its new locations. It's vital it be kept parallel with the upper bracket. JD Air supplies a paper template you're supposed to secure to the fuselage, but this is fraught with risk. Fellow building buddy Craig created on CAD a steel template that had all the rivet holes and cutouts precisely located. After uneventfully drilling out the 8 rivets securing the lower bracket, I also drilled out 2 rivets to the upper bracket. This gave me multiple locations to cleco the template to the fuselage and very accurately positioned it. Making the cutouts in the softer aluminum with it outlined in steel was way easier too. I used a combo of unitbits, rotary tool with a cutting bit, files and sandpaper to create the openings. In the corners I used a 1/4" dowel with sandpaper since all the radii are .125". After getting the cutouts done, I drilled the holes for the lower bracket which I then clecoed in place on the fuselage. Then I started fitting the 2 handles to the brackets. Initially the handles were too thick and wouldn't fit. I removed approximately .02" of material using my new pneumatic palm sander. After repeated sanding, measuring with calipers and fitting to the fuselage I got the fit I was looking for. I then dimpled the new holes with a close quarter dimple die and riveted the lower bracket in place. I was pleased with the tight exterior seams along the handles and the very clean look. The latch operates smoothly and has a positive spring locking mechanism. When hooked up to the previously installed rear latching assembly the whole system works very well. Glad that's all done. Can now move on to the canopy.