Task for today was to begin fitting the canoy frame. First item to fabricate was the canopy locking block that mounts on the bulkhead just behind the passenger seat. This block is mounted to the backside of the bulkhead down in the slide receptacle. Unfortunately, while counterboring the two screw holes where the lock nuts are to be press fitted the drill bit grabbed and jerked the block out of my hand and ruined it. You can see in the picture where the drill went all the way thru the block. Damn, better go in and order the replacement part from Van's before we get too close to Airventure (Van's is usually out of action for a couple weeks).
When a part is screwed up or a fabrication doesn't go so well I usually call it a day and try again tomorrow. In the case, however, I decided to fabricate canopy slide block and it came out ok. It is shown in picture 2 below without the cotter pin installed (the cotter pin hole has been match drilled to the pin).
I have included a picture with the block installed properly showing the canopy frame locking pin engaged.
