Next we installed
the upper fuselage cover over the instrument shelf. After installing the upper cover we installed
the rear window and the turtle deck skins.
These are just clecoed in at this point.
I will permanently install them very soon.
At this point we
moved the airplane onto the driveway and began to install the canopy. We had the canopy in place and lowered it
down. Then just to make sure everything
was OK I raised the canopy. It was
actually to get the camera from inside the cockpit and take a photo. On lifting the canopy, the support arm on the
right side hung-up on the edge of the upper fuselage skin. Lifting the canopy all of the way up bent the
edge of the skin up. We removed the
canopy from the airframe and removed the screws holding the skin in place. With my duck-bill pliers I was able to straighten
out the bent edge. I put a little extra
crease along the edge of the skin so when it is installed it will be tighter to
the fuselage. We reinstalled the screws
and using a file I smoothed the edge of the skin. After reinstalling the canopy we confirmed
that it goes up and down without any interference.
Our next step was
to install the wings. We installed the
left wing and then the right wing. I will
need to pull the wings into place when I install them the final time. Right now it is difficult to install the spar
pins without a huge amount of effort.
Grandma
came out to check our progress.
Next we installed
the empennage. We didn't hook up the control cables, but I know they
work.
Grandma came out
again and the boys encouraged her to take a turn sitting in the cockpit. She was laughing and smiling the whole time so
I guess she liked it. I am going to go
up to MATCO Mfg in Bountiful and purchase their parking brake valve. I am planning to install it in the tunnel
where the brake lines pass on their way to the center section. I will buy the valve from MATCO and a actuator
cable from McFarlane. They make one labeled
'PARK BRAKE.' Of course the park brake
will be installed after
certification.
