5/28/2007
Well, I didn't get the fuselage flipped over today, but I did get a lot of little stuff done. My dad went for a ride today, and was unavailable to help today. Being Memorial Day, I didn't want to bother anyone else, so I worked on a BUNCH of little things to get it ready to tip over. I started by drilling out the blind rivets I installed yesterday. These were just eating at me last night, and I knew I'd feel better about getting them out of there. I'll figure a way to get solids in those spots. They probably would've been fine, but there is a way to get solids in, so I'll do it.
Then I riveted the 902 bulkheads to the lower longeron. This must be done before the bottom skin goes on.
After that I removed the two small (outer) 704 cover ribs to make riveting the bottom skin stiffeners easier...thanks to Dan C. for that tip! Then the bottom skin was cleco'd back in place. It's ready to rivet now.
With the skin on, I cleco'd the center skin stiffeners and squeezed the rivets on each end to the 601 angle, and the larger 704 cover rib.
Cleco'd the outer bottom skin stiffeners on.
Drilled a couple of rivets that were set to early in the 706 bulkhead.
Riveted the baggage ribs to 706.
Drilled the side baggage ribs for rudder cable routing, installed snap bushings.
Riveted the bellcrank rib to 707.
Riveted the armrests to 705.
Riveted the little 904-something clips to 704 and skin.
Then I started riveting the main longeron, starting at the rear. Eight holes in front of 710, you can install the rivets since the aft top skin won't cover that part. I also riveted the hole between holes up to the 706 bulkhead. These are "keeper" rivets that will be left in place once the aft top skin is installed.
Felt like a long day today, but at just over fours hours for all this stuff, it should feel long! We'll see what my dad's schedule is like in the next couple of days to get the riveting done before the flip.
4.25 hours