Peter


About Peter

plbarrett.com | Certified Flight Instructor (Single & Multi-Engine, Instrument, and Advanced Ground) | Commercial Helicopter

Flaps 9 (2.0 hrs)

Today I finished all deburring, edge prep, and preparing for priming.  I realized that I had drilled the holes connecting the ribs to the formed rear “spar” with a #40 bit, when the plans call for a #30.  I quickly corrected that as well. After I finished all of the prep work, I set up the shop for the wings, as my next project, beyond riveting the flaps are all on the wings themselves. IMG_6454.JPG

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In the process of setting up the shop, I pulled Jim’s airplane out of the hangar. Holy cow was it hard to push back in! The new hangar has a slight incline in the taxiway, plus there are two tracks for the doors and a concrete lip. It was all I could do to get the plane back in the hangar by myself. It wouldn’t be as hard if we had his plane centered and the hangar was relatively empty.  Then I could just get some speed up and use momentum to my advantage, but with the wing and horizontal stabs close to the walls, I’m not taking any chances in damaging his plane. IMG_6456.JPG

What I need to do is something like what one of my neighbors has done with a little blacktop repair. Unfortunately, with Jim’s plane off center, and mine eventually centered, I’ll have to do a bit more than three spots. IMG_6457.JPG


Flaps 8 (6.0 hrs)

Tonight I started by countersinking the bottom of the flap spars. These are countersunk instead of dimpled so that the hinges can be left untouched. I clecoed the hinges on to help center the countersink bit, and I used Mike Rollison’s drill press to make quick work of the countersinks.IMG_6447.JPG

Next I dimpled all of the ribs and the tops of both spars. IMG_6448.JPG

Then it was time rearrange the work benches for dimpling the skins. In no time they were done!IMG_6449.JPG

IMG_6451.JPGI also did a little rearranging in the shop and moved my hangar-mate’s plane a little further over. The weather is so rainy and foggy, everything was absolutely covered in condensation. I mean absolutely everything. I wonder if there is a solution? A dehumidifier perhaps? Probably too much air to be effective, although just a small drop in humidity might be enough…