QUICK DAY – MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO GMU 22 MOUNTING BRACKET I did not have much time in the hangar today, so it was a perfect day for a minor project. I have elected to use the GMU 22 as a part of my avionics suite, which will require the GMU… Read More »GMU 22 mounting bracket install
ATTACHED THE VERTICAL STABILIZER Let’s get it out of the way. It’s a terrible pun. I own that. But I also own an airplane that has BOTH the horizontal and vertical stabilizers attached to the tailcone! At the same time! I am pretty excited about this. I am having a… Read More »Tailcone is stabilized
I put in some time to finish the tailcone.
Back in the workshop after Oshkosh to rivet more tailcone skins and put the aft deck in place on the tailcone.
A DYNAMIC STORY ABOUT MY STATIC PORT See what I did there? Another terrible pun. Yes. Moving on. In my research and reading ahead in the instructions, I have come across what Van’s would like me to use for a static air source. While I know full well that anyone… Read More »New static port
SHORT ARMS = TAILCONE TEAM I have been able to manage a large number of rivets on the tailcone so far. I have been able to combine any number of reaching and stretching techniques employed. But the reality is that this particular section requires an extra pair of hands. Bring… Read More »Tailcone Team
SETTING UP THE AFT DECK Once I had most of the pieces riveted in place for the tailcone, it was time to cleco the aft deck in place. For the most part it went quite smoothly. I am really happy that I spent the extra time working on the alignment… Read More »Riveting the aft deck
MAKING THE RUDDER FAIRINGS I suppose I should correct that to “purchasing the rudder fairings” from Cleavland Tool. They have the basic pieces that you need to trim to size for your plane. I made what I considered a slick looking swept back look, took it to the band saw,… Read More »“Fairly” good attempt at rudder fairings
RIVETING THE BOTTOM SKINS We continue to inch closer and closer to finishing up the empennage. One rivet at a time. I think each rivet also makes the finish line seem farther away too. Such is life. But I have a phenomenal riveting partner that makes the time fly by.… Read More »Finishing up the bottom skins
CALLING IN SOME BACKUP I have just about reached the extent of what I can back rivet on the tailcone. It was time to make a call to the bullpen. Fortunately my wife is an expert with a tungsten bucking bar and made quick work of this. Setting rivets in… Read More »The real riveting expert