Aileron – Test align

Having started with lower left and lower right (driving) ailerons I have now got the ribs glued to leading and trailing edges and now started fibreglassing to aileron spar.

The centre two ribs are close together and make up the primary hinge point which is underslung.

This aileron is then offered repeatedly (lost track of how many 100’s of times I have done this !) to make sure it sits squarly and centrally in the wing slot.

Stbd aileron test

Rigging Tail

Sam riggingFerrule 2Last night was a fun packed session of tightening all the rigging at the tail. The Tail is supported by 8 rigging cables. Two on top at each side (supporting Fin to Tailplane) and two underneath at each side (tailplane to body)

The cables had been pre prepared, swaged at one end and each tang packed with 3-4 washers so that you have some adjustment once you have swaged the other end of the cable to length.
To assist in this process you have to place 5Kg of weights on the tips, check for level and true all the time and get the cables to have a dull twang when completed.
As the manual points out the effect of bringing these all up to tension gives you a fully closed loop effect. So tightening one affects all the others.

An evening of depression and elation followed as it all looked good, then went apparently slack, then went taught again as we successively did opposite support wires.
Rigging taught
Great job in the end as the whole thing began to settle as washers were removed to just tighten it all up.

First Inspection ….

Today was my first proper inspection. Bob duly popped around on what was a fairly traumatic day in Jersey with an early morning crash of a Cessna into the bay in St Ouen’s in thick (typical) Jersey fog.

The 14 or so checkpoints outstanding could be reduced by up to 3 perhaps 4 !!

Bob checked

  • Elevator – fittings, finish, accuracy
  • Rudder – ditto
  • Tailplane – ditto

All checked out OK with a couple of comments and advice. One, which applies to all fittings, at least 2 threads should be showing beyond nylocs – my currently untightened bolts for the rigging will do this once tension is taken up and excess washers removed.

Bob also noted that there was no counter balance weight on the rudder, noting that some similar models and Pipers etc have a weight in the top of the rudder in the forward overhang as this adds stability and potentially prevents rudder flutter.

Double checked with Paul at TLAC and this wont be needed but good to check and get advice and input.

Now I can crack on with rigging and cabling and top decking.

Thoughts are with family and friends of N289CW

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