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Dave's RV-7A Builder's Log
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Date:  8-21-2016
Number of Hours:  4.50
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Canopy fitting and attachment

This session was all about getting the canopy installed on the frame. There were a number of things that had to be done to preclude the possibility of stress risers and cracks forming, so I started by running a Unibit through the back of each hole to deburr them. Next I took a countersink and slowly enlarged all of the side holes to allow them to receive the dimples in the side skirts. These particular holes take a #6 screw, so I had to remove a fair amount of acrylic to make the countersinks deep enough.

With all of that done it seemed like as good a time as any to attach the canopy to the frame...at least in front and along the top. The plans call for attaching the front of the canopy to the frame with pulled rivets directly, but the top has a trim strip that is dimpled, and the rivets attach though the strip and canopy to the frame. Some builders add an aluminum strip along the front of the canopy, but not only did I not have enough aluminum to do this, I also couldn't see a compelling reason since the windscreen trim strip will cover this anytime the canopy is closed. With that, I started riveting the canopy on...no turning back now.

Riveting was pretty simple, and aside from one rogue rivet that I somehow pulled before realizing it was the wrong one, the whole process took less than 30 minutes. After drilling out the bad rivet and replacing it with a proper one, I spent some time cleaning up the plastic covering and adding some masking tape to keep everything protected.
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Front edge riveted in place

Front edge riveted in place

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Initial fitting of side skirt

Initial fitting of side skirt

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