Fuselage

This aircraft was bought in May of 2000, but work did not get started on it until September.

It is a quick build RV-6A with a sliding canopy. The photos on this web page will try to cover the gotchas and things to be aware of .

 

Construction started with the floor boards. The first thing to be aware of is when drilling the screw holes for the access covers that run down the center, to NOT drill the forward screw holes in the back cover since they must be shared by the center flap block. Mount the flap actuator arm and drill the screw holes during this process.

The same argument holds for the installation of the electric flap actuator cover box. Care must be taken to ensure the front floor ribs are straight when drilling the floor boards down. I used wooden blocks inserted between the ribs to hold them in position during the drilling.

This photo shows just how crooked some of these ribs can be.

Mounting plate for autopilot. Note reinforcing angle on cut out rib. Plate is .063 with 3/4 x 3/4 x .032 angle on the ends.
Servo mounted on plate. The arm on the servo needs to be remounted 180 degrees from where it comes from the factory. It also needs to be reversed internally, as it will drive in the wrong direction when mounted in this configuration. Instructions for doing this are included with the mounting instructions.
Autopilot linkage. Note rod connects from servo across to the pilots side stick. Note also, the aileron trim springs are attached to the autopilot linkage using cotter pins which are in holes drilled through the rod. It is not obvious in this picture, but you must place the steel tie rods for the wing spar in place before installing the removable rib which the aileron trim plate attaches to. Failure to do so will require dissassembly of a portion of the controls and a loss of points due to bad language
Close-up of bracket which connects autopilot linkage to control system.
Airtight boots made from rip-stop nylon. For aileron push/pull tube from fuselage.
Installed
Note the holes & slot on the stick bottom. The wire is a telephone type 6 conductor with plug. Stick has push-to-talk and elevator trim.
Made from spring steel. Bottom rivits hold it in place, top rivit goes through a hole and into a hole in the stick bottom. Top of the catch is folded out to grab hold of to release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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