Brief Description: Cockpit rails, Instrument panel, and fwd top skin
Today provided a little visual progress. I finished drilling the cockpit rails, except at the spar flange tops. I will do those from the bottom up.
I then fabricated and installed the .063 angle that goes on the front of the cockpit rails. These short angles are what fastens the instrument panel to the cockpit rails. Rather than a rivet, I installed a nutplate on each side, and a #8 screw. This way, the panel can be removable.
Next I fabricated the "flexi-flange" that goes around the top of the panel. This is simply .032" angle- I drilled a relief hole every inch in the radius, then notched angles every half inch. This worked great.
I finished the day by aligning the top forward skin, and setting the instrument panel with proper tilt. The top is 1" forward of vertical.
