Drilled horizontal stabilizer

April 6, 2016 – I drilled the stabilizer to mount to the fuselage.

I made the shims that go under the HS-714 where the stabilizer mounts.

I made sure that the stabilizer would be mounted square. I measured from the aft outboard corner on each side up to the top corner of the side skin at the firewall. Both sides were right at 170″. Perfect.

The plans call for a 3/16″ gap between the aft deck and the bottom of the stab, so I inserted two #10 drill bits.

I marked the location for the outboard holes that go through the HS-714, the aft deck, the longerons, and the support angle underneath. I drilled the holes with a #40. You can see the open hole in the angle in this photo shot from inside:

I’m OK with the edge distance here. I drilled the two holes just inboard of these, then took these four holes up to fit -3 bolts.

Once that was done and clecoed, I drilled the four aft bolts. This was a lot easier to get to.

Here’s the end product. I have to take it all apart to deburr.

Next up: drilling the vertical.

Time: 2:45