Elevators - 1 hr 57 mins (Elev. 10:30, Empennage 114:55, Total 128:51)
Rivet count: 0 (Total 2,154)After assembling all the major parts and pieces yesterday, today it was time to add all the little ones that will ultimately add to strength and stability.
First, the reinforcement plates for the trim cable access plates. This is the first of a series of pieces that will create an access door for attaching and adjusting the elevator trim cable and tab attachment. For my family: trim refers to the act of micro-adjusting the control surfaces to allow the airplane to fly with minimal control surface pressure. When you speed up or slow down, the plane makes more and less lift and the nose tries to climb with more lift. So instead of flying while constantly pushing down, you trim it so you can fly easier. Think of a car that pulls to the left and being able to make the steering wheel trim to the right to counteract it instead of constantly "steering" right.
Then there where two tiny elevator gussets that add strength to the skeleton. The holes start off as #40 but get drilled to a larger #30. I did a double take at this and even looked ahead to make sure it wasn't a misprint. Then I got to attach the tips of the elevators where the counterbalance is. Now the parts really look like elevators. Then, I attached the top skins and cleco'd them in place. Last, I measured and cut the two trailing edge wedges and cleco'd them as well. Another page in the plans complete. It was a short work week with only two nights in town. Gone once again for the weekend. I really want this wedding planning stuff to be over already. -M
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