Brief Description: Match drillled top skins, began steps
Today I match drilled the top skins. I also drilled out all of the J-channel stiffeners. The manual then tells me to raise the right side of the top skins to allow access to the top of the F-787 stiffener rib. This rib need to have an angle clip attached so the rib can be attached to the bulkhead. This was easy to do with the angle drill. While I had the skins open, I drilled the F-656 gussets on the left side and clecoed them in place. I will do the right side when I take the top skins off. I next decided to take a look at the step installation. I wasn't going to do much on this today, but I got carried away and ended up installing the right step. Making the outer plate match the curves of the side skin was not as difficult as I thought it would be. I then mounted the support block on the inside of the fuse and drilled it in place. I still have to do the left side...maybe tomorrow. I am also thinking about how many runs of wiring conduit I will place before I install the floor panels. I want to make sure I don't have to drill out rivets later on....I also placed an order with Avery today. I ordered the Pitot/Static kit (from SafeAir...now sold by Avery's) and the rudder fairings. I will need to install the static system before I rivet the upper skins on. The last thing I did today was run the rudder cables.
The F-707B clip is in place under the top skins.
The outside plate of the steps clecoed in ....
The inside step support is bolted in place (temp.). Time to get the vac out......
