March 19, 2024
Fairleads and Pitot Static tube install
I’ve been working toward covering my wings. It seems that I keep coming up with things I need to address before I’m ready to cover. I need to make my control cables but decided I needed a couple more fairleads to better handle the runs of the cables. I installed one in each wing by making a mount that fits in the gussets on a rib.
With that finished, I realized I needed to mount my pitot static tube in the right wing before covering. Of course, nothing in the plans so I consulted Supercub.org and Super Cub drawings to find where to mount the tube and found a basic plan. Here’s the tube I’m using from Aircraft Spruce.
Next, I made a mount out of paper to see how it would fit ……
On to the sheet metal to make the mount. I drew up a pattern in CAD and fabricated a mount for the tube.
Next, drilled holes, installed nut plates and figured out the location. I decided to glue a 1/8” thick piece of ply wood on each side of the spar to reinforce the area before drilling any holes. I clamped a couple pieces of scrap wood so the mount would be level with the fabric. I will put an inspection ring under the tube and use a inspection cover between the fabric and the mount to secure the tube in place.
inHere it is all finished and temporarily bolted in place. I need to seal the new plywood and the inside of the holes before permanently bolting it in place. I primed it with Stewart Systems Ekoprime with a brush and will topcoat it next time I’m painting parts.
Next up: I need to make the aluminum mounting frame that will hold in the landing light lens. I need this frame to locate the nut plates that I need to install before covering. Every time I think I’m close I find more little things left to do before covering. I came up with a punch list of 13 items left prior to covering; most little some big like fabricating my control cables.
Next up: sheetmetal work to make the lens frame.
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