Date:	2-7-2016
Number of Hours:	3.50
Brief Description:	Left GPS antenna tray
Today I finished up the installation of the left side GPS antenna tray. The right side tray is installed slightly more outboard than the left side, due primarily to the location of a sensor manifold on the left upper firewall. Although it was unintentional (at first), by moving the right side tray to a more outboard position, it left enough of a space between the trays to remove the oil filter without first removing one, or both, of the GPS antennas. Just in case there isn’t enough space, I elected to install everything with screws to make it all removable. This, of course, takes a lot longer because it involves installing nut plates, countersinking for the screws, etc. In the end, I think it will be a more effective installation, and gives me the flexibility to change it as necessary. After finishing the GPS antenna installation, I decided to start working on the comm antennas. These are Comant whip-style antennas that I will mount on the belly, just aft of the gear legs. This is a pretty common location for the RV-7, so I figure, why reinvent the wheel. Once I determined the best location, I started figuring out how to make the required doublers…and that was when I realized that I didn’t have enough spare .040 aluminum to get the job done. I do have a fair amount of .032, but decided to be safe and do some research before proceeding too far.