Most of the internal systems needing install before top skin have been installed so it was time to start installing the aft top skin. This consists of building floor boards, installing bulkheads, and then the long task of drill, debur, dimple and rivet of the top skin. It’s probably the final large rivet effort needed on the fuselage, so looking forward to getting it done! The only complication I ran into was the gussets installed behind the F-807 bulkhead. I decided to match drill the holes before the skin was on, which ended up resulting in mismatched holes after the skin forced the gusset into a different position. I was able to mitigate this by drilling different holes, but in hindsight I should have paid closer attention to the order of operations in the instructions as in this case they would have avoided the issue.
It was fun having Jess and Jack help with these steps!
There were also a series of other tasks that still needed doing. James helped me install the right brake line, which Sam continued on his rear rudder pedal project. The plans called for installing the static port and lines before top skin was fully in place, so I worked that. Note that the static port is supposed to be forward of the reference rivet line, but I ended up installing it aft. It’s about a 2 inch difference in longitudinal location so I don’t think it’s a big deal.
I’m off to a volleyball tournament in Vegas this weekend so probably not a lot of progress to be had, but next up will be dimpling the skins and starting the rivet journey! Until then… Happy Building!