Trailing edge right elevator

Decided to simply rivet the upper rivet on the trailing edge. Then drill abother hole on the underside at a edge distance apart from the existing hole. When trying to get a dimple tool in there - not a chance, so a normal head cherrymax had to go in there. Looks really ugly, but is OK from a structural point of view, so that's how it will be. Keep this as a lesson for the rest of the narrow double sided parts.

Since I have made the lead weights of sheet, they have to be boltet on. Originally lead would be meltet around the bolts making it one single solid part. When using the sheets I have to make a plate from harder material so the bolts will not just enter ino the led. I started making them from scrap aluminium.

Led weight

Made led counter weight from sheet led. These need to be bolted in place, so I need some bolts. Might as well use an bolts. These have to be ordered so I continue with the left elevator next.

Right elevator

Just about finished. I only need to add led weights. That will be made from sheet led.

right elevator leading edge

Bent and drilled the leading edge. Have to do some fine adjustments to the curvature before riveting.

Bending the leading edge right elevator

Riveted the rest of the rivets including the cherrymax. Used my professional cherrymax riveting tool instead of my cheap blind rivet tool, and what a difference! Forgot to stagger the outmost rovets at the trailing edge, so I have to put in a slug there and some reinforcement between the flanges. There is no space for two cherrymax in there. Always something.

Riveting right elevator

Deburred and dimpled all holes, riveted the elevator horn to the skeleton, then inserting everything into the jig and riveted together. A few "stray" rivets still have to be done as well as the cherrymax ones in places I cannot easily get to using normal rivets.

The horn is RTV'ed as well. My counsellor told me to always use RTV between aluminium and steel due to corrosion. I have been a bit sceptical to this because the rivets themselves are connecting the steel and the aluminium in any case (galvanic corrosion), and also I have been a bit sceptical about this "rubber glue", and how it will affect the strength, will it act "spongy" weakening the riveted joint? I tested the RTV on some scrap aluminium, let it cure for a week. The joint is about 2-3 square cm, and now I cannot tear it apart using my hands, so the RTV is certainly not weakening the joint. It also occurred to me that the RTV is not there to prevent the galvanic process, but rather to keep the moisture out of the joint, seal it off completely; no moisture - no corrosion. So, RVT between aluminium and steel is most certainly a very good thing and easy to apply.

Primed elevator counterweight skins

Measured the counterweight skin. The manual is wrong regarding fitting this skin. Again, studying the drawing and planning ahead is the key. Primed both skins.

Right elevator skin

Right elevator skin is finished trimmed. Next is to install the elevator to obtain correct angle between the HS and the balance arm.

Panel, some more trimming

Trimmed a bit on the elevator. Started investigating on panel. Got the XPanel software and tried lots of different configurations. I ended up (for now... ) on analog flight instruments and the rest digital.

Glider towing

Started glider towing yesterday. It included 5 tows in a glider (a Grob 103A), check ride in a Piper Pawnee (PA-25-235 Pawnee B) and 10 test towings in which I now have 5. I need 5 more tows with "seasoned" glider pilots, and I will be a certified towing pilot. Those will be done on Friday. Ordinary I would also need 10 solo tows in a glider, but I already have those from a loong time ago.

The Pawnee exist only as single seater, consequently the check ride also had to be done solo. This was an experience (of the finger nail biting type) in such a special airplane with a Spitfire sized nose, but once airborne for the first time, I felt right at home. It is a delight to fly. LN-NTH is equipped with a silencer and 4 bladed low noise propeller. The towing itself was surprisingly uneventful, but I guess the rugged and powerful Pawnee had something to do with that.

The gliding club is NTH Flyklubb. They have 5 gliders and the Pawnee. They were in urgent need of towing pilots, and sponsored everything. In exchange I have to tow at least 10 days the next year. So lots of Pawnee flying for me the next year. The flying is at Oppdal, a mountainous area of Norway where the gliders can stay up for ours and ours on mountain waves.