G-RVBA

F-804 Rudder cable 8A hole placement stbd side looking fwd.

2009-09-01T11:02:07Z

This is an image of the 'required' rudder cable hole. It's very tricky to drill but it's needed as the 804 is drilled out for 8's not an A.

The plans require that you relocate this hole, so you can see the hole that spans the angle is the 'new' hole, and yes the plans say to span the angle and avoid the rivet!!

This took ages to set up etc.

Battery holder priming

2009-08-30T18:12:19Z

<-Warm summer evening, ideal for prepping parts! Items drying out nicely, ready for riveting!->

F810c (bottom views)

2009-07-23T15:10:39Z

This is the underneath of the previous items. You can see there is very little room to manouvre. The hole 3/16 must be place 1/2" from the outer edge of the longeron so it's very tight indeed.

Drilling HS forward spar and F810

2009-07-23T14:47:34Z

This is a tricky operation with the turtle deck inplace. It's a critical component, in an inaccesible place. Plans require great scrutiny to place the holes precisely and squarely through the parts required compliant with the MED. The Red item is the plastic base of one of my clamps! The swarf is just there to add dramatic effect.

Weldment WD-821-L

2009-07-21T13:36:17Z

This is the port gear assembly ready for fitting to the F-804. The bolt fits through the reamed weldment and gear leg.

Push rod / rod end fixing

2009-07-14T15:08:44Z

Pop riveted the rod ends to the internally/externally primed control rods.

Gear Weldment spacer stbd

2009-07-12T16:16:07Z

Another tricky little thing to do.

This is for a tiny shim and is double flush riveted to the weldment. It must be countersunk as the bolt head must rest flush to the weldment when fitted.

Gear Weldment reamed to size

2009-07-06T13:16:18Z

Port weldment and gear leg reamed to size. The swarf was a fair amount as you can just see the end of the reamer.

Landing Gear Weldment (L) WD-821-L

2009-06-21T10:37:32Z

Just placed 6 non Nas bolts to help align the weldment to the centre spar.

The two dome shaped items are in fact rivets and the weldment must sit perfectly over these to help with the alignment process.

This shot is of the bottom and you can just make out two 'drift pins' helping in the alignment process prior to drilling the weldment to the left longeron.

You are required to place a small shim just behind where the bolt is, prior to final fixing.

This weldment seems to fit well!

Weldment WD-821-L fitting to fuselage.

2009-06-20T11:53:54Z

Weldment WD-821-L fitting to fuselage.

2009-06-20T10:00:25Z

Here you can see that I'm drilling out the 1/8th pilot holes and replacing them with 3/16ths ones.

You can see the brass 3/16th cleco's fitted. Don't forget to deburr all this work as it's quite swarfy!

Weldment WD-821-L fitting to fuselage.

2009-06-20T09:45:14Z

Port gear weldment pilot back drilled through skin, doubler, weldment with #30 prior to 3/16ths.

Tip. I fitted all temporary bolts through the weldment to hold in place prior to drilling out.

Good result as the weldment is nice and flus to the inner skin.

1st UK RV-8A flight of G-RVCH

2009-05-29T13:59:28Z

Chris Harrison flew the first UK example of an RV-8A and this was captured on a shaky and noisy camera in video. Best you turn off the sound to view and also use full screen as it's a very tiny shot!!!

RV-8A.mpeg

Well done Chris!

Fuselage: Rear parcel area

2008-10-13T14:48:51Z

I experimented with the rear parcel area to determine whether the extra work would justify using countersunk screws. In my opinion it does!! I will machine countersink the holes and dimple the floor skins to accept counter sunk screws in all visible areas of the floor.

I used a nut plate held in position with a screw, cleco clamped one side of the nut plate whilst drilling the first 3/32 hole then using a cleco to lock the nut plate in position while drilling the other side

Flap Motor installation

2008-09-12T21:14:17Z

Note: I used a piece of .125 to keep the weldment off of the F-831 as specified in the plans.