Day 19 - May 23, 2015

A lot of progress was made at the TF4 hangar today!

The control stick pushrods were drilled and tapped, and the flap handle blocks were also cut.  The flap handle and the control rod were assembled along with the main push rods. 

 

 

The fuel tank was temporarily assembled to judge the fit in the plane.  Also, the rear spars in the wings were deburred and the flaperon spar was prepared.

 

 

 

The upper firewall and the left and right canopy ribs were riveted to the panel base.  Then, the engine mount brackets were attached to the panel base, and the cowl hinges were riveted to the side skins.  

  

 

As for TF3, prep work for the airplane's paint scheme was worked on today.  All of the masking was completed and the areas where paint will be applied were scuffed.  

TF3 is getting very close to being fully complete! 

 

Stay tuned for more progress soon!

   

Day 18 - May 16, 2015

Today was another great day at the hangar for TF4.  Many tasks were completed including the completion of the tires and wheels, progress on the fuel system, and more work on the map box.  As for the map box, the door hinge was riveted to the door and is almost ready to be attached to the map box.  The SkyView panel is also ready to be attached to the box. 

 

 

As for the main wheels and tires, the bearings were greased, and the wheel hubs, discs, and halves were also assembled. The main landing wheels are all ready to be balanced.  The seat backs were also worked on and are almost completed. 

   

 

 

Additionally, the fuel system return lines were installed in the fuselage.  This required many accurate bends and clamping.  We completed the return lines that extend from the engine to the back of the fuselage at the fuel tank.  The entire class went through a hands-on session on tube bending and flaring so all of the students had a chance to experience this.   

 

       

Check back soon for more progress!

    

Day 17 - May 9, 2015

TF4 worked on many tasks today including progress on the fuel system, the installation of the side vents and rudder pedals, as well as the assembling of the tires and wheels.  As for the fuel system, the gascolator was installed and most of the fuel lines were bent and put in place with the right torque. 

 

 

The rudder pedals were assembled and temporarily installed.  After a lot of adjusting and fitting, the side vents were riveted to the fuselage and they look great. 

 

 

As for the landing gear, the wheel halves, discs, and hubs were all assembled in the right order and they look great as well!  Work on the wing spars was also done.  The attach angles on the spar were riveted on, and they will later have the wing ribs assembled to them.

 

Stay tuned for next week! 

Day 16 - May 2, 2015

Today, many more tasks were worked on at TF4.  This included the riveting of the side skin, preparation of the wing spars, and the beginning of the fuel system.  As for the side skins, they were both riveted onto the bulkhead side channels and there were two mis-drilled holes in the longerons that were fixed with a doubling plate and rivet.

 

On the wing spars, the AEX tie down was drilled and tapped, and the map box was further assembled.  The map box halves were riveted and the door hinge was also cut and clecoed to the map box halves. 

 

 

The fuel system was also worked on.  The fuel pump, the fuel flow meter, and the fuel valve were installed in the fuselage along with each of the corresponding tube fittings.  A few of the fuel lines were bent into shape to be later installed in the fuselage. 

 

 

 

Check back next week for more progress!