Today's job was to drill the screw holes for the two belly-mounted comm antennas. I had initially thought of mounting the antennas on the inboard-most wing access covers, in an effort to move them to the manufacturer's-specified distance apart. As time went on, however, I have realized that this causes a few more problems than it's worth. Many, many other RV-8 builders have mounted them in the fuselage with no issues. So today I began mounting them in the fuselage belly, as far outboard as I could get them -- basically in line with the aileron pushrod holes. I'll be using right-angle BNC connector adapters, so there will not be any conflict with the pushrods.
Because I don't want the antenna's connectors goobered up by the nearby hammering that will occur as I tap in the temporary spar pins, the antennas will not actually be mounted until after I attach (and remove) the wings. I'll attach the backplates to the belly skin tomorrow.
The comm antennas will be located just behind the wing spar, as far outboard as I could get them.
