[<<Prev]
[Next>>]
[March 20, 2008]


Tonight I started on setting the vertical stabilizer. I needed to fab up the F-712D angle. This angle has two purposes. The aft end of it attaches to the vertical part of the vertical stabilizer, and the horizontal part acts as a stop for the elevator - the elevator power coated arm hits this when it is all the way up.


I got some big arse clamps and set clamped the vertical stab to the aft bulkhead.


Next I needed to set the VS's angle. I used measuring tape.


On the left side, 63 3/8"


And the same on the right side. Yippe. This took quite some time. The vertical stabilizer kept on moving on me. Even pulling on the tape measure caused some movement.


To double check my handy work, I got out the old digital level. With the fuselage level, I measures 88.7 degrees on the left.


And 88.7 on the right. Good to go. Time to drill.


I used the pilot holes in the F-712D to backdrill the VS using an angle drill.


Once the holes were through, I stepped them up to #12's and put some bolts on.


I clamped down the F-712D angle to the fuselage and removed the vertical stabilizer. This gave me access to drill the 712D to the fuselage.


As you can see, there are three rivets in the middle that go through the aft deck, and two bolts on the end that go through the longerons.


Next I put the vertical stabilizer back on. On the left side, an AN960-10 washer goes between the F-712D and the vertical stabilized. This is needed because the vertical stabilizer is offset from the fuselage centerline by 1/4" to the left. This offset is used to counteract the P-factor and keep the airplane coordinated without any rudder.


The instructions didn't say to do this, but I drilled the F-781 attach plate to the horizontal stabilizer. There were just too many clamps around and this needed to get drilled anyways. I will open them up for the bolts later on when I have better access than just an angle drill. The angle drill doesn't give you that much precision.

[<<Prev]
[Next>>]

http://RVplane.com

Last Modified: August 13, 2023