Tag Archives: Rv10

Used a chart and homemade guide to get the necessary 5 degree angle to drill perpendicular to the chord line as per instructions.

A rough drawing of the trailing edge configuration.

Home drill guide in operation.

Drilling in progress.

This close-up shows the trimmed trailing edge.  A bit more rounding is needed to smooth the AEX piece.  I intend using ProSeal (or equivalent) on the trailing edge, so hopefully some of the empty space will get filled with this material.

The last few days I have been researching how to drill and countersink the rudder trailing edge.  By hand measuring the AEX aluminum strip I determined the acute angle to be about 10-to-12 degrees.  If the common drilled hole through both sides is perpendicular to the chord, this means the countersinking bit will be about 6 degrees off the drilled line when removing material to accept the skin dimples. This angular difference does not seem like much, but we shall see how it goes.

I have also spent quite some time finalizing the bonding strap and static wick configurations.  Using #10 screws, nut plates, and a 3/8″ braided copper mesh should do the trick for effective electrical connectivity.  My intention is utilize the open area near the middle hinge for the bonding strap.  Parts were ordered and have arrived from Aircraft Spruce.

MISC LOGISTICS – continue to acquire painting supplies and work on the configuration of the shed for alodine/prime processes.  I have my eye on a 7.2CFM, 2HP air compressor, but need our finances to stabilize a bit before pulling the trigger.

Eric helped match drill all the rudder skin holes common to the spar and stiffeners.  I do not understand the instructions drilling the trailing edge. In one step the plans call for drilling perpendicular to the chord of the rudder, later it talks about countersinking holes perpendicular to the trailing edge surface.  Right now these seem like contradictory instructions.  I will need to get some clarification before proceeding.