Brief Description: Started riveting the forward aft top skin.
Sunday we decided to start riveting the forward aft top skin which had been prepared months ago. I crawled into the tail cone and bolted the shoulder harness cables to the anchors that are bolted to the longeron. We had already installed the static ports and run the the tubing toward the instrument panel area. The only thing left to install would be the large elevator push rod which would be simple even with the top skin on.
We clecoed the skin on and Charlotte ran the rivet gun while I bucked. The F-787 top rib had to hang loose from the F-707 bulkhead so as not to cause interference for entering one rivet into the skin and bulkhead flange at the very top. After riveting that one rivet, I riveted the rear of the F-787 rib to the bulkhead using the hand squeezer. We started riveting the skin at the top center on the F-787 rib and then proceeded to the J-stringers left and right next. We riveted from the top center down both sides on the bulkhead flanges stopping at the J-stringers. It was enough for one afternoon since I had to lay on my back inside the tail cone on a board and cushion while Charlotte had to stand on small ladder to reach the top of the fuselage. We will continue tommorrow. But we missed the Happy Hour and must still cook supper! Oh, well, all in a Sunday afternoon's work.
Bolting the shoulder harness cable to the anchor brackets.
