Brief Description: Fitted forward baggage door - part 1
After getting the new hinge cut and installed on the door it was time to fit the door to the fuselage. This wasn't as difficult as expected. I did have to do a little filing of door edges and scotchbriting but the door fit the fuselage fairly well. Once the fit was good I taped it down tight with duct tape and crawled inside the forward fuselage to rivet the inner skin on the door. This requires laying on your back, holding a flashlight in your teeth, and blind riveting the door skin to the fore and aft door ribs. The theory here is that the inner skin once riveted will make the door hold its shape.
I remember George Orndorf saying this task wasn't the most fun he had ever had and that was a bit of an understatement. Crawling back in the fuselage on your back with various airframe components poking and restricting movement is hard on an old guy. Anyway, I got in there and accomplished the required riveting. I started from the center of the skin/ribs and worked my way out towards the hinge and the latch area on the door. I was able to get all the rivets except for maybe two.
Then, the challenge of egressing the fuselage. I think my upper body strength is slowly vanishing.
