Jason builds a plane

wing #2 - less head scratching, more building

18/7/2021

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With the right wing now in storage, time to clean off the bench, confirm it's level (again) and start fresh on the left wing.  I already think things are going to go faster this time as I've already sorted out the order of operations and know any gotcha this time around- as long as I remember this one points left!    Most all the parts for the wing are already made as I made a matching part when I made them for the right wing where I could. 
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Parts roughly laid out.  I had already drilled the rib mounting holes in the spar when I made the spar.
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Picture

After positioning the main ribs, next up was assembly of the rear channel.   Clamped the inner rear channel doubler to the rear channel to establish the layout of the mid join point:
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Rear mid channel joining doubler:
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Rear strut pick-up, laid out for drilling:
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I drilled out everything in the rear channel to A3.  In preparation for attaching the rear channel, the spar is squared up vertical to the bench using upright posts screwed to the bench.  The orange string line confirms the spar is perfectly straight and a level.
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Rear channel is attached.  Straight, level and held in place with blocking screwed to the table top.  A long board under the rear end of the main ribs supports the wing skeleton and keeps the spar vertical and square:
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0.125 root doubler in place (another part made at the same time as the right wing one):
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Picture

Blocking at the inboard and outboard ends of the rear channel keeps it perfect lateral position relative to the spar which also squares the wing ribs.  The wing skeleton is now perfectly square and level.
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Nose ribs are added to the front of the spar:
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When I did my right wing, I took the skeleton apart before fitting the skins and riveted anything I could ahead of time.  It meant squaring everything up again before adding the skins.  This time, I'm going to fit up the upper skins while the skeleton is secured as square and level.  Once the skins are drilled out to A3, then everything will come apart for debur, prime and final rivet.

Here is the outboard upper skin laid out in rough position:
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Picture
Picture

Once completely square to the skeleton, I'll begin drilling the skin to spar and rear channel out to A3.  The the rib rivet lines will be laid out.  The skin will come off the skeleton to pilot drill the rib lines on the skin and place the upper skin stiffeners.  That process worked perfectly on the right wing, so I'm repeating that here.
 
Next up will be the upper inboard skin which is the piece that goes over the fuel tank bay.  I'll need to fabricate the inboard root angle first.

For my regular readers, I'm sorry the blog has been lacking.  I'll try and get more regular updates posted, but to be honest there isn't a lot of content here that wasn't already described during the right wing build-up. I do have some extras in the left wing including the pitot and static lines, but that comes towards the end when I run the plumbing for the fuel and wiring for the lights.

As always, thanks for following along.
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    Husband, father and 911 dispatcher.  Long time pilot with a licence that burns a hole in my pocket where my student loan money used to be.  First time aircraft builder. Looking to fly my own airplane.

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    Item Hours
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