I decided that before I would rivet the right side skin on I would go ahead and fit the right boarding step. I cut the outer hole in the skin with a 1.5" hole saw. I trimmed the flange on the F-623 per the instructions.
I had to open up the 1.5" hole a little bit to clear the weld on the step, but a di grinder and sanding drum made quick work of that.
I then used a drill extention and a 1.75" hole saw to cut through the F-626 baggage rib. The hole saw made very fast work of the rib. It probably took all of 3 second to cut through the rib with that new hole saw.
I did a little tweaking on the step mounting flange to best match the contour of the fuselage, I then drilled and clecoed it in place. With the inboard bearing block in place, I mach-drilled it to the baggage rib. I will wait to cross-drill the bearing block to the step tube until I at least have the bottom skin clecoed in place. I don't want to flex the rib and mis-allign the rivet holes.
I still need to trim the aft lower (upper in the picture) corner of the step flange and drill one more mounting hole. It will be easy to finish that up later.
