Date:    10-16-2006
Number of Hours:    7.00
Brief Description:    Began Horizontal Stabilizer
While waiting on the ProSeal on the rudder's trailing edge to cure, I began work on the horizontal stabilizer. First I read through Section 8 of the plans and began assembling parts from inventory, Then I used the bandsaw to fabricate four cradles out of MDF to hold the stabilizer during construction. Next I marked and trimmed the front spar caps, long stringers, and short stringers using the bandsaw. Finally, I began deburring the rear spar... all 11 feet of it... to remove all tooling marks and sharp edges with a Vixen file and 3M fine/medium all-purpose sanding sponge. Most of this task was undertaken during the Bears-Cardinals game on Monday Night Football, so I was a little distracted from the monotony of the deburring process, but very engaged in one of the most exciting pro football games I've ever watched. (Fortunately, the Bears won 24-23, despite 6 turnovers and zero touchdowns on offense, and they remain one of the last undefeated teams left in the NFL at 6-0!) By the end of the game, I had finished deburring all the outside edges of the spar, with only the lightening holes remaining for tomorrow.