Van's RV-9A in Aurora

The Big Picture

The Big Picture
Flying! 8/28/2011

Saturday, January 3, 2009

3.5 hrs
As usual for me, got the top skins almost completely clecoed on, then decided I wasn't happy with the jig alignment. So removed the wing skins and refined the wing frame alignment on the stand. This time carefully clamped it in place. After that, then reinstalled the wing skins. My hands are sore from all those clecos. Using a cleco in every third hole, even though the instructions call for every fourth hole.

Next, started match drilling skins. Got mostly done, except for the rear spar and wing walk doubler.

Had a rare appearance by Katrin, who helped align the stringers to the skin from behind. This is way easier with two people.
Marked the stringers at the actual center line as learned on the left wing. But also marked 3/16 from the edge as per the instructions. Started match drilling the stringers, with Katrin holding them flush and centered in the gap between the rib flanges. This time the holes fell neatly right between the two lines, or closer to the inboard end, dead center on the line I marked as the center (about 1/4 inch from the unbent edge). Using the measurement as given in the instructions will not allow the stringer to set flush to the skin, and that was consistent on both wings. For the right wing, got the correct lateral position on the outboard stringer, which was off by a bit on the left wing due to some confusion over the wording in the instructions.