Brief Description: Fuselage load pads installed in cockpit.
Three load pads per side were sanded and prepped earlier this week for bonding into the cockpit area. We positioned them IAW the Legacy manual and clecoed them in place. Access holes and pass throughs were positioned and drilled before bonding. After prepping the carbon in the fuselage, the load pads were bonded into place using flox.
The cutouts in the forward load pads are for the smoke hood inserts that came with the kit. We were shown how to install nutplates and countersink screw holes as we fit the pieces in place. It was a necessary skill to learn, but I've decided since then that these inserts will not be used on my airplane. Instead, I'm going to seal off the forward load pads and install AUX fuel tanks in the leading edge of each wing just on the other side of these panels. Each AUX tank will hold an additional 6 gallons of fuel and the fuel lines will come into the cockpit floor area through the forward load pads. Much more on this mod later.
Left side load pads in the cockpit.
Holes drilled through the load pad prior to installation.
