Brief Description: Fabricated trap door & match drilled tank
I ordered an extra piece of piano hinge for fabrication of the inverted fuel trap door and future use in making an access panel in the rear bulkhead of the front baggage compartment for easier maintenance of avionics.
My first task for the day was to make the inverted fuel trap door per the plans. While test fitting, it is apparent the door really won't completely seal the hole in the rib. The hole is cut so close to the flange that the door can't cover the opening completely. I suspect in actual operation there will be some fuel leakage past the door perhaps at more than one point. However, the door should slow down the migration of fuel from the inboard bay to allow a brief period of inverted flight without engine stoppage (I hope).
With the arrival of 200 more clecos, I installed fasteners in every other hole in the tank skin and proceeded to match drill the entire skin. The holes in the joint plate were also drilled. Finally, the tank was removed, placed in the cradle and the skin to baffle holes were drilled and countersunk. The skin is countersunk spanwise along the baffle to make it easier to install later. Tomorrow morning before leaving for duty at the NMUSAF, I plan to match drill (#19) the holes for screw attachment to the main spar and joint plate.
