Brief Description: Aft fuselage - prep for assembly
In preparation for match-drilling, dimpling, deburring and priming, the vinyl was removed and the manufacturing ink cleaned from the skins. Mike S. and I then worked on further bending the tail-cone skin (.040 inch thick) to form the proper shape. Also had to work at getting the tabs along the bottom of the F-711 and F-712 bullkheads to follow the correct radius at the proper angle. After much tinkering, the holes are lined up pretty close. At the time of drilling the J-channel stringers, it should pull together properly if I carefully drill one at a time and cleco as I go. The plumb-bobs on the bulkheads on each end of the fuselage are aligned on the tooling holes, so there is no twist to the fuse (Note: there is no tooling hole on the bottom of the F-706 bulkhead -- instead just determine bottom-center and hang the plumb-bob from the tooling hole at the top center). Ready to drill the J-channel stiffeners then the skin to the bulkheads below the holes for the longerons!!