Saturday, February 28, 2009

Making the Bottom Rudder Fairing Removable on the RV 10

Van's Aircraft plans calls for riveting on the lower rudder cap fairing, however I wanted mine removable. The idea is to have the area behind it assessable so I can put electrical connectors for the strobe, nav light and electric rudder trim.

It's a fairly easy modification. The pre-punched rivet holes are drilled out with a #27 drill bit. Then K1000-6 nut plates are installed (similar to the wing tips are installed). The screw holes and rivet holes are countersunk into the fiberglass cap. Were as the screw holes in the aluminum are dimpled with a set for a #6 screw. The screws used are AN 507-C632R8, these are stainless screw but could be substituted with steel AN507-6R8.