Tuesday, September 11, 2007


This is the inboard inspection hole with the spar web/inspection hole doubler rivet holes already drilled.

Drill the inspection hole cover mounting screw holes with #19 bit

With the doubler clamped in position, #40 bit is used to drill through the skin and doubler at each of the eleven marked locations. A block of scrap wood was placed underneath while drilling since the doubler is made of very thin , flexible stock

Duplicate the process for the other inspection hole. Click the square for up close view of photo.

Mark locations for the inspection hole doubler rivet holes + center punch them.


Drilling the nose ribs with #30 bit except the holes in the outermost nose ribs at both ends and the ribs immediately to the left and right of the inspection holes in the skin.(#40)



Tadaaah!!!...


Here, i am seen drilling the aft rib holes with #30 bit except the outmost aft ribs(#40) which are accessible with rivet squeezer later on.

The end result after lots of drilling..

I am seen here drilling the spar holes with #40 bit.

With the assembly clamped upside-down on the bench top, the left skin is slided over the assembly.Note, the upper surface of the skin hung down towards the floor.Rivet line on the lower spar flange is centered under the pre-punched rivet holes .Once positioned properly,it is clamped at each end with a few side grips

Note, i did not follow the manual strictly w/regs to using an aluminium angle to secure the assembly. Instead, i simply shifted the plywood out a bit and clamped the assembly together with the same result. Here, i am seen drilling all the holes in the flanges of each nose and aft rib and corresponding holes i the spar web up to #40 size.

With two cellophone tapes with width of exactly 1/2'' acting as spacer on the counterweight nose ribs, the spar/rib assembly are all clecoed together. Note, the left aileron is actually on the right hand side v.v.

Drilling the nose ribs and bracket with #30 bit.

Outboard hinge bracket holes being drilled.

Another hinge bracket being drilled. Note this inboard bracket is wider than the outboard bracket which will be shown in the next photo.

After all dimpling have been completed...

Dimpling the ribs and nutplates in progress..

The rest of nose rib pairs B & C are drilled with nutplate holes + rivet holes.

With the pilot holes marked & center punched, the counterweight bolt holes plus nutplate holes are drilled. Note i made a mistake by drilling on the wrong counterweight nose rib. The wrongly drilled rib have been marked with red crosses.

Cleco the appropriate nose ribs together in preparation for drilling.

Arrangement of all de-burred aileron parts readied for centreline marking