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Date:  9-7-2010
Number of Hours:  2.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Left elevator

Received the elevator horn from Sonex today. I was about to go on with the elevator when I noticed that the elevator horn detail calls for an anchor nut to be drilled for. This anchor nut will hold a screw that will hold a bracket to hold the elevator trim cable. I have seen pictures on at least one builder's web site where the elevator was fully made and the horn was never drilled for this anchor nut. Someone is going to have a nasty surprise...

Then went to work on the left elevator again. I started with the center rib, holding it in place with a spring clamp and drilling the first pilot hole. I then went to the trailing end of the rib and drilled into that. Then I filled in, drilling the holes between.

After the center rib I went onto the outboard end rib and did the same. Unfortunately I found that the trailing edge bend at this end must be slightly longer than the rest of the trailing edge bend. I guess that's what can happen when you scratch build and bend your own skins. What it means is that the outboard bay has a bit of a convex bend at the top surface, and the trailing edge has a slight droop (if you look closely in photo 2 you can see it). Both of these are not going to look real good, and may cause some drag. But I'm not about to remake the whole elevator, so it's going to stay like it is. I suppose I could add an intermediate rib between the center and outboard ribs to smooth things out. I'll think about that.

I'll have to do better on the next airplane I build!

Tomorrow I'll work on the other elevator, and then finally work the horn into the assembly. The elevators are certainly taking longer than I thought they would.
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Elevator horn drilled for anchor nut

Elevator horn drilled for anchor nut

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Outboard end of left elevator

Outboard end of left elevator

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Another view...

Another view...

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