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Wings...installing ribs skins, rib channels 06/14/03 - I was SUPPOSED to be at the Young Eagles function today, but with problems at work last week and a month's worth of rain in a week, I had to take time today and catch up on my yard work because I'm leaving Thursday morning for Hays, KS and the Rans Fly-In and I don't want to come home on the 22nd to grass that's a foot tall! I was sorry not to be able to participate in the Young Eagles function, but I did see GA aircraft working in the area most of the day, so I know that others did make it. I hope everyone had a great time! Last time out, I was working on getting the right side root rib skin in position and noticed that the pre-drilled holes the manual talks about seemed to be conspicuously absent in my pair, so I sent Ed at Rans a note asking about it and apparently, I received a partially completed set (everything but the holes!) and he expedited another set out which I received on Wednesday (same day as my NEXT 100 pcs of 1/8" clecos arrived from Brown Aviation). Here's a photo of the original root rib skin:
and here's the replacement:
All you do is center the skin and transfer drill to #30, clecoing as you go. I worked from the center to the outside edges, top and bottom:
A pair of channels are cut from stock material using templates and then drilled and riveted to the backside of the root rib skin:
And that's pretty much all the work I will be able to accomplish on the Coyote kit before I return from the Rans Fly-In because I'm swamped at work right now, and I even feel a bit (just a bit, not much more) bad about taking off at this time. As with the Coyote kit however, work will be there also when I get back. I'm really looking forward to attending the Fly-In, in order to personally meet Paula and Ed who have been such a tremendous help to me these past six months and also to fly that S-6S taildragger again! I spoke with Josh about getting some instruction and he indicated he'd work something out so that Randy and I could have an hour or two in order to concentrate on landings, etc. I got my taildragger endorsement last November, but it's been six months and I'm anxious to try those skills out on a Coyote with an experienced instructor aboard and see how I do. I intend to be the test pilot on my Coyote and every little bit of training helps. When I am finished with my kit and ready to start working those Phase I hours off, I also intend to be a proficient and safe test pilot! If at that time, I feel not fully competent, I will take further instruction before I take my Coyote aloft. More updates soon... |
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Last Update: 06/14/2003 |
