Progress on Fuselage



December 2004 / January 2005 - The wings are mostly on the way to completion. Still have the bottom wing skins to rivet but will wait to make sure that I don't forget something. Sooo...now more about the Fuselage.

  • Rolling cart for fuselage - kind of over sized now that I've worked around it.
  • Match drilled firewall insert
  • Sizing bushings for control linkage
  • Controls in location
  • Fuselage looking more like an airplane
  • Preparing seat parts
  • Left seat
  • Seat back
  • Two seats...and thats all - these things sure have a bunch of parts!
  • Installed hardware for tiedown ring
  • Shop rearranged
  • Going to be fun to test fit wings in here!!

    February 2005 - Started here with the wing fuel tank mounts. Then moved on to the rudder/brake pedals and added rivets to the 705 bulkhead.

  • Tank mount parts. - The front end of wing tank bolts to this tab.
  • Rivets removed for tank mount.
  • Inside view of tank mount parts.
  • Right wing tank mount.
  • Yep it does snow here.
  • Made a few trips to the hill this season.
  • Putting rudder pedals together.
  • Riveting rudder pedals together.
  • Detail for drilling pedal.
  • Trying to figure brake pedal mount angle.
  • Second brake pedal angle.
  • Setup brake pedals into rudder bars.
  • Mount pedals in cabin.
  • Decision about rivets in 705 bulkhead. - I decide to trim out a section of the top rail to set rivets.

    March 2005 - Dropped a bucking bar and still contemplating what to do with the rib flange that is torn. Moved on the the electric flap mount and control. Then attached the front rear skin (is that confusing or what) to match drill. Added the steps, some wiring conduit and created a strobe/ELT mount behind the baggage compartment.

  • Rib flange vs bucking bar - Here is were I dropped the bucking bar.
  • Detail of rib area - Van's say to put a doubler on the flange.
  • Flap motor housing.
  • Flap control bar.
  • Flap motor mounts.
  • Drilled safety wire hole.
  • Connected battery to flap motor to check operation.
  • Fuel float OHM test high.
  • Fuel float OHM test low.
  • Getting rear cabin skin ready to drill.
  • Rear cabin skin.
  • Steps mounted and drilled.
  • Inside cabin step mounts and wiring conduits.
  • Added mount for strobe head and perhaps ELT.

    April 2005 - Finally routed the static port lines. Been over thinking the route for the lines. Just stayed with the plans. Will probably use epoxy glue (JB Weld) to mount the static ports inside the fuselage. I bought the lines and fittings from SafeAir1. Next is the forward control tunnel cover that I am still finishing.

  • Strobe and ELT setting on mount.
  • Inside view of static port setup. - tape is temporary.
  • Right side static port.
  • Route of static line trough 705 bulkhead
  • Other side view of 705 bulkhead.
  • Fabricated parts for forward control tunnel cover.

    Stay Tuned .....

    The fun continues!


    • Email: skiflyn (at) yahoo (dot) com

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