Brief Description: Installing wings on fuselage II
I made a couple of vertical extensions to two work tables to act as wing supports for the outboard end of the wings. Then the wings were mated to the fuselage and held in place with pins. The front spars were adjusted up or down until the holes in the spar matched the holes in the fuselage fittings. The drill bit we used earlier to drill the spars were used as a guide. When the bit would slide freely through the front fuselage fitting and the spar we clamped the fitting tight to the spar with Vise Grips. Then using a 3/8" reamer we final drilled the front fittings and spars to the correct size. A bolt was then inserted to hold the front spar in place. With 3/16" bolts in the holes in the rear spars we adjusted the rear spar up or down until the bolt was centered in the hole in the fuselage fittings. Then using a long level with a Smart Level taped to one end we checked the angle of both wings. Both wings were dead on. Now we're ready to drill the rear spars. But wait a minute. Although the bolt in the right rear spar was dead centered in the hole in the fuselage fitting where the bolt exited the spar when we removed the bolt it was obvious that the hole was high on the other side of the spar. A long drill bit and a carpenters square confirmed what we had feared, the hole had not been drilled perpendicular to the spar at the factory. We pulled the wing back off then with a small round file we carefully corrected the hole. Then using the drill guides provided by AviPro we drilled the rear spars 1/64" undersized and followed up with a reamer. With both wings drilled and bolted we checked the angle once more and it was perfect.
