The next task for the wing ribs is to drill some extra holes in the main ribs to provide a passage for a flexible conduit to be installed to carry wires for the full length of the wings. Wiring is needed for things like wingtip lighting in both wings; pitot-heat and stall warning in the … Continue reading Drilling Main Ribs for Electrical Conduit
Author: rossted
Wing Rib Preparation
There are 27 ribs on each wing for a total of 54 ribs, each of which needs to be prepared for assembly. Preparation involves deburring all of the edges so they are not sharp or jagged, then squaring the flanges so they are at a right angle to the web, and finally fluting the curved … Continue reading Wing Rib Preparation
Wing Rear Spars
The main spars are complete. It's time to prepare the wing rear spars. Here is a section of the plans that shows where the rear spar is on the left wing: The rear spar is a Z-shaped channel that extends for the length of the wing. It has very beefy reinforcement bars on the inboard … Continue reading Wing Rear Spars
Tie-Down Bars
The tie down bars need to be drilled and tapped and their spacers fabricated. The spacers are cut from an aluminum bar with a one inch lightening hole cut in the middle. It is called a lightening hole because it reduces the weight of the part. The Freshly Cut Lightening Holes The Drill Press After … Continue reading Tie-Down Bars
Main Wing Spars
Wing construction begins with the preparation of the main wing spars. These spars are the structural backbone of the wings, holding all of the load from the weight of the aircraft during flight. The spars are partially constructed at the Vans factory. Their thick reinforcement bars come riveted to the main spar channel and the … Continue reading Main Wing Spars
Wing Kit is Here
My RV-7 wing kit has arrived. It was shipped by truck and delivered by a subcontractor with a truck with a hydraulic lift. Apparently this is how they handle residential deliveries, i.e. deliveries to locations that don't have forklifts. The kit came in two wooden crates, one long and thin and one wide and flat. … Continue reading Wing Kit is Here
Tail Construction Complete
My son Micah and I set up the whole tail in the family room to see how it all fits together. It's starting to look like a real airplane! The tail section is complete with the exception of the fiberglass end-fairings and the tail lighting. The wing kit has been ordered and I'm expecting delivery … Continue reading Tail Construction Complete
Preliminary Rudder Setup
I still hadn't attached the rudder to the vertical stabilizer, so it was time to see how it fit. This is a preliminary setup, to be followed by a thorough set up during final assembly of the airframe. The rudder has three rod-end bearings that bolt to three brackets on the vertical stabilizer. The trick … Continue reading Preliminary Rudder Setup
Attaching The Elevators to the HS
It's time to hang the elevators on the horizontal stabilizer and drill the horns to fit the center bearing. I first had to drill out the bolt holes in the hinge brackets. The were not quite big enough for the AN3 bolts that are used to secure the rod end bearings. Once that was done, … Continue reading Attaching The Elevators to the HS
Finishing the Left Elevator
The last tasks on the left elevator are to roll and rivet the leading edge and to install the rod end bearings. This is a repeat of what was done for the right elevator. Here are some pictures from this session: Rolling the leading edge Installed rod end bearing The completed left elevator
Ted's RV-7 Build 