Category: Forward Fuselage

Fitted firewall

March 5, 2015 – I started today by making the straps that tie the F704 bulkheads to the longerons.

The plans call for .063″ thick straps. I used the four pieces of raw stock I had on the shelf, and cut them to length, then clamped and drilled them.

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I also trimmed the forward ends of the longerons to the correct length. I had previously marked them at 3/4″ from the front edge of the side skins.

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I moved on to the firewall. I clecoed the F772 forward lower skin in place.

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The instructions tell you to keep the forward ends of the longerons aligned with the side skins by placing rivets in the holes just as alignment pins, because the firewall is heavy and could weigh down the longerons.

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I drew a line along the bottom structural aluminum angle of the firewall to mark the centerline. This line should be visible in the second row of fastener holes in the F772 skin.

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I clamped along the lower edge of the firewall. You then need to verify that the forward face of the firewall is 5/8″ from the forward edge of the side skins. After making sure that dimension is correct, and verifying the alignment rivets could be moved, I drilled both sides of the firewall.

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I clamped the upper engine mount brackets in place inside the longerons. This is where I will drill next.

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Time: 3:10