Fuselage "clear to cover"?

[mhorowit]

This week I got my IA to sign off my landing gears and tailfeathers to be ready for covering; not that they are ready - still need some clean-up and priming, but it's a start. The fuselage is next with some welding required, so before I request an IA signature saying it's ready for covering, I'll need to :
1. Prep the steel and prime it
2. Put cables and pulleys in place that couldn't be installed post-covering
3. Put the stringers in place.
4. Put the wood around the top in place.

Anything else? - MikeH

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

This week I got my IA to sign off my landing gears and tailfeathers to be ready for covering; not that they are ready - still need some clean-up and priming, but it's a start. The fuselage is next with some welding required, so before I request an IA signature saying it's ready for covering, I'll need to :
1. Prep the steel and prime it
2. Put cables and pulleys in place that couldn't be installed post-covering
3. Put the stringers in place.
4. Put the wood around the top in place.

Anything else? - MikeH

run a tail nav light wire just in case

[paulnuss]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Any thoughts about a tow hitch release mechanism and cable, for hand-propping safety? I welded a small bracket for ELT mounting on mine. Antenna mounting on bottom, for external ELT and/or COMM? Shoulder harness mounting points? Just some thoughts...

[Dan Mahalak]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

probably a good time to attach weld on float fittings.
Perhaps metal tail section for underneath tailfeathers for easy access to aft fuselag as well.

[alwaysoar]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Mike

Cable fairings? I believe there are ten all together, including the aileron cables. Some folks say you don't need them in the fuselage. Bob Gustafson on his site tell what to do, use piper split fairings.

Ed

[Pearson]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Tubeseal???

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Put in the welded supports for the skylight IMHO, while you are set up for welding. They are just 12 or 15 thumb size steel tabs that go on the upper longerons and cross members.

The bracket or plate for a Schweizer or TOST towhook for hand propping is a GREAT idea. (www.wingsandwheels.com)

I would put in the extra diagonal tube for the Harer STC in the bottom of the fuselage just because it is easy now. I would also put in the little welded thingies for the rear window frames even if you are not going to put them in now..

DEFINITELY put in the beefed up wing attach points as on the F-19, and make SURE that you have clean un-ovaled holes for the spar and strut fittings. This is a WHOLE LOT easier to seld in a doubler and ream out the holes now that it will be with your brand new fabric on.

[alwaysoar]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Poor Mike! He had to ask!

Ed

[mhorowit]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Poor Mike! He had to ask!

Ed

Yeah; I was wondering if Bill wanted me to pack lunch also! Things were going so well... - MikeH

[mhorowit]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Put in the welded supports for the skylight IMHO, while you are set up for welding. They are just 12 or 15 thumb size steel tabs that go on the upper longerons and cross members.

Elsewhere I asked for someone to contrast the F-22 skylight installation with the Clayton STC. Would either of those mods require these tabs, or is that specific to your approach? - MikeH

[crispy critter]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Mike,
Most of the above is not nessesary....just do what you want,it's your airplane and only needs what you want.With this being said....it is soooo much easier to make allowances now for things you might want later on but wasn't really wanting to do now.

[astjp2]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Just remeber that all of those little ounces you add makes lots of pounds when its all said and done, mine grew about 100lbs with the mods I did, I have no insulation and a very spartan interior and still came across at 911 lbs empty.

Tim

[VictorBravo]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Well Mike, since you asked about the welded steel lunch box... there's a small cooling system that runs on Freon...

Sorry if I spoiled your party. No spoilage intended.

The welded tabs are the F-21B factory method and likely the F-22 method as well. They allow you to mount the aluminum secondary structure that the skylight mounts on, and replicate the OEM certified F-21B method. This would allow you to get a field approval with very little headache. If you want to postpone the anguish and do a skylight later without the welded tabs, then you're stuck with my method, which does not require welding but does require you to use a torch underneath the FAA to get it approved.

In all seriousness, if you want a skylight you can do things now that will be a lot easier than doing later. If you don't want a skylight then you can save the time and effort now and/or later. My best advice is to fly an airplane without a skylight, then fly one with a skylight, and make your own decision based on your personal feelings about what th value is in a skylight.

Bill

[mhorowit]

Re: Fuselage "clear to cover"?

Sorry if I spoiled your party. No spoilage intended.

No spoilage

The welded tabs are the F-21B factory method and likely the F-22 method as well. They allow you to mount the aluminum secondary structure that the skylight mounts on, and replicate the OEM certified F-21B method. This would allow you to get a field approval with very little headache.

Ok - depends on my what I hear from my other thread on Clayton vs F-22

My best advice is to fly an airplane without a skylight, then fly one with a skylight, and make your own decision based on your personal feelings about what th value is in a skylight.

Been there, done that; being 6'1", I can use the headroom

Bill

MikeH