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Dave's RV-7A Builder's Log
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Date: 5-20-2017
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Number of Hours: 4.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: Attached aft and side skirts
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Today’s session was devoted to permanently attaching the side and aft skirts. The canopy project has been pretty challenging—and more than a little frustrating at times—but like all things on this aircraft it will eventually be done. I am more and more convinced that there is not a “right” way to build a slider canopy since a change to one part of the structure will induce changes in other parts, and not necessarily in totally predictable ways. Therefore, it seems like you just move along and deal with the issues as they come up. Such is the case with the skirts. I was pretty sure that by riveting everything in place I would find some changes that needed to be addressed, so I set about getting them all attached.
The first step was to ensure that everything was ready for permanent attaching. I did the usual deburr, dimple, etc, on the aft skirts and then clecoed the side skirts in place. After attaching the #6 screws, I then used blind rivets to install the side skirts. Once that was done, I moved to the aft skirts and did the same, running into one place on the right side where the rivet pulled out of the hole as it was setting. Fortunately it was relatively easy to drill out, so I was able to replace it without problem. I did run into a challenge on the sides where the aft skirts cover the side skirts and two rivets could not be set using a bucking bar, so I put blind rivets in those holes and moved on.
At the end of the session I put the canopy back on the fuselage and was “rewarded” by finding the whole assembly so tight on the frame it would barely even slide open and closed. Looks like there will be more metal adjustment in my near future.
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Right side riveted and screwed in place
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Looks good with canopy closed
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May be the best fit I'm going to get at this point
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