Days 28-32

Getting going on the Center Fuselage!

We started with the Rear Spar assembly using the jig to align the parts and riveting everything as the manual instructed.

Second was the main spar, installing the autopilot brackets and the floor rib instillations. It was important here to make sure all the rivet nuts were installed in their proper places as we went along. We also utilized the jigs to align the assembly. There were also seatbelt reinforcement brackets and bolts installed as well as an elevator autopilot bracket.

Third we built the Bottom Floor Connection. There is more sound proofing foam to be installed here, as well as a healthy amount of m4 rivet nuts. We were careful to follow the build manual and only install rivets where instructed. Once the bottom floor assembly was complete, we joined it with the main spar. It was noted in the manual to use a protective barrier between the steel rivets and the aluminum skins at this point. We chose to use the same sealant that we had used to seal the fuel tanks. (This was one of the acceptable procedures written out in the build manual.) So, with the bottom floor cleco'ed to the main spar and the holed clear drilled and de-burred we mixed it up and put a small amount around each rivet hole and then installed and pulled the steel rivets.

Fourth we joined the rear and center fuselages. We elevated the rear fuselage onto foam spacers to achieve the proper angle for the joining section. (The height measurements are marked out in the build manual.) Once everything was properly aligned, we joined the sections and riveted them together as outlined in the manual.

Fifth we worked on getting the controls done as far as we were able. We assembled first the rudder pedals. The stops have to be trimmed to not bind on any bolts. We are missing one bracket to finish the assembly but have it on order. We also aligned and installed the elevator control tube. We have aligned the aileron control tube but cannot finish its instillation until we receive our back-order flap control tube. They use the same locking brackets. As we, we have aligned and installed the control stick assemblies.

Sixth we installed the rest of the fuselage jig assemblies to make sure everything was aligning properly and installed the center fuselage bottom skin.