Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 5)

Reference: pages 15-03, 15-04; 2.5 hours

With the deburring of the wing ribs behind me, I feel like I am getting some traction on building the wings of the RV-12. In working through these steps it is important to make sure the correct rib is being use.

Step 4: Cleco the W-1210B-L Rib Doubler to one of the six trimmed W-1210-L Main Ribs. Match-drill #30 the trimmed main rib using the rib doubler as a drill guide. Uncleco the main rib and rib doubler. Deburr.



Step 5: Select one of the W-1210-R Main Ribs and cleco the W-1210B-R Doubler. Match-drill #30 the trimmed main rib using the rib doubler as a drill guide. Remove the celcos and rib doubler. Deburr.



Step 6: Select two of the W-1210-R Main Ribs and cleco one of them to the W-1216 Hinge Bracket Assembly and W-1216B-L Hinge Rib. Match-Drill #30. Repeat for the second main rib. Remove clecos, flaperon hinge brackets and hinge ribs. Deburr.





Step 7: Select one of the forward flange trimmed W-1210-L Main Ribs and one of the unmodified left main ribs and cleco each to a W-12189 Hinge Bracket Assembly and W-1216B-R Hinge Rib. Match-Drill #30. Remove clecos and Hinge Bracket Assemblies. Deburr.





When all is said and done they should look like the picture below.



Step 8: Rivet the W-1210B-L Rib Doubler to the match-drilled W-1210-L Main Rib.



Step 9: Rivet the W-1210B-R Rib Doubler to the match-drilled W-1210-R Main Rib.



This completes page 15-03.

Reference page 15-04, Step 1: Lay the W-1206-L Spar Assembly on the work surface with the flanges facing up. Select one of the W-1210-R Main Ribs and cleco the rivet to the furthest outboard attach angle on the spar assembly.





Step 2: Take one W-1210-R Main Rib which was match-drilled to the W-1216B-L hinge Rib and cleco then rivet to the next inboard attach angle on the Spar Assembly.



Step 3: Select four more of the W-1210-R Main Ribs and cleco then rivet to the next inboard attach angles on the Spar Assembly.



Step 4: Cleco then rivet the remaining W-1210-R Main Rib which was match-drilled to the W-1216B-L Hinge Rib to the next inboard attach angle on the Left Spar Assembly.



It truly amazing how easy it is to use blind rivet compared to driven rivets. While building the RV-10 I remember spending an hour or more driving just a few of the more difficult rivets. With the RV-12 it just set the rivet and pull the trigger!

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 4)

Reference: page 15-03; 5 hours

In this entry I finished deburring and fluting the main ribs for the RV-12 aircraft.

Step 1: Flute and straighten all of the W-1210 Main Rib flanges.



Step 2: Select six of the 13 W-1210-L Main Ribs and trim the fwd flange.



Step 3: Trim the forward flange of all 13 W_1210-R Main Ribs.



It's nice have this job behind me! The parts part were also etched, alodined and primed with zinc chromate.

Vans Aircraft RV-12 Build, Section 15: Wing Ribs (part 3)

Reference: page 15-03; 4.5 hours

I've been working on fluting and deburring the main wing ribs for the RV-12 airplane. Their not all done, however I wanted to make a post regarding a possible "Builder's Gotcha." As I deburred the ribs I noticed some small cracks in the rib flange. They were easy to fix but if not noticed could and would have caused problems down the road. Please see the pictures below for more details.

Step 1: Flute and straighten all of the W-1210 Main Rib flanges.



Here is the area of the small crack on the flange. Almost all of the left hand main ribs had them. The close up pictures below are a before and after using a round needle file.







It was easy fixing the problem the big thing is seeing it in the first place so it can be corrected. That's it for now back to the ribs!