Brief Description: Mating Canopy Bubble to the Skirt
The bubble was removed from the skirt, the areas of the skirt that would be in contact with the bubble and fuselage were sanded to remove any high spots or significant aberrations.
With the bubble fit back into the skirt in the assembly fixture, and spreader stick and other bolsters in place, the skirt was marked for attachment holes on six-inch centers, ½ inch below the upper edge of the skirt. Using a deliberately dulled #40 drill bit, four holes were drilled on each side through the skirt and bubble, and one at the center rear of the skirt. The remaining holes around the front and back will not be drilled until the assembly is fit to the fuselage. Number 40 clecos were installed with backup plates on the inside of the bubble, to reduce stress concentration.
The assembly was removed from the fixture and gently set in place on the fuselage. The front center of the skirt was pushed down in contact with the upper boot cowling, and a single hole was drilled to hold it in place.
There are a number of places where the skirt does not lay tightly against the fuselage. Hopefully I will be able to work most of these out.
