Sunday, September 25, 2011

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 20: Center Section Bulkhead (part1)

Reference: page 20-02; 1.5 hours

As you may have noticed this is the start of the fuselage section for the RV-12 E-LSA aircraft by Van's Aircraft. But what happened to section 19? Your guess is as good as mine. In the flow diagram for the kit provided by Van's Aircraft, in one of the first chapters of the Rv-12's plans, there is no section 19 listed. Maybe it is some super secret future option or maybe not. Until a better explination comes along let's get started with the fuselage center section.

Step 1: Machine countersink 100 Degree the nutplate rivet holes on the F-1204 Center Section Assembly to fit the head of An426D3 rivet as shown in Figure 1 of the RV-12 plans on page 20-02. Machine counter sink 100 degrees the nutplate rivet holes in the center section assembly to fit the head of CCR-264SS-3-2 rivet. Install nutplates on the center section as shown in Vans Aircraft plans.

Builders note: To clear some of the rivet heads during this operation I removed the counter sink's case.





Step 2: Final-Drill the two bolt holes in the F-1204CL-R Fwd bulhead Side Assembly and install the F-1204R Retainer Block.



Step 3: Final-Drill the F-1204 Center Section Assembly and install the F-1204R Retainer Block as shown in figure 3 of the RV-12 plans on page 20-02.





Step 4: Insert two AN4 Bolts into the 1/4 holes punched in the F-1204D Center Section Aft Bulkhead. Clamp the center section aft bulkhead to the F-1204 Center Section Assembly. the bottom surface of the center sectionchannel rest on the shanks of the two AN4 bolts>

Builders note: I needed to lightly deburr these 1/4 inch holes to get the bolts to slide in and seat completely.









This completes page 20-02.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Van's Homecoming 2011 HD Video

This entry has taken a lot longer to post than I anticipated! The video was shot during the 2011 Van's Aircraft Homecoming celebration in Independence, Oregon. It features a compilation of clips starting with an RV-1 (a Stits Playboy with Van's metal wing that would become the wing for the RV-3), through the RV-12 with the Dynon Skyview panel, and a high speed flyby done by a Nanchang China CJ-6A.



Anyway, I hope you enjoy the show!