F21 leading edge sheeting

[citabrickr]

Can anyone tell me the rhyme or reason for needing all of these plastic shims under the leading edge sheeting on this thing? Would it have been out of the question to make the ribs the correct shape? What a nightmare....

[murphy]

Re: F21 leading edge sheeting

It is to shim for shape of the leading edge near the wing root and you are right it is a nightmare. Some of mine were broken so I went to Lowes aviation department and bought some floor tiles, cut them in strips that worked pretty good. Do you have a 21 or 21A/B mine is a 1983 21A with the forever leaking 21 gallon wing tanks sure wish it was a straight 21 with less fuel and a better tank design.

[citabrickr]

Re: F21 leading edge sheeting

This is a straight F21 with the 6 gallon tanks, which was a whole other issue... Let's just say the only supplier that holds a "PMA" for their tanks builds them incorrectly and couldn't care less that they don't fit, repaired the old one. I guess as I start the sheeting from the root outboard I'll just try to match the screw holes as best I can to see what they were thinking as far as "matching the contour" and will add shims as necessary, I just think it's a real horse's ass way of doing it. This was the first time the wing has been uncovered from the factory and I was not impressed with the original job done at all, but am now forced to reproduce this mess to match the other side.

[Steve Green]

Re: F21 leading edge sheeting

I used a string across the nose of the ribs, to see where a shim was needed then placed the shims, then attached the leading edge. Came out pretty straight. Worked for me, although I am sure there is a better way.