Wendell Folks RV-8 Project - Page 65.

October 15, 2007:  The Monday evening session was about picking the final placement of the GPS and XM satellite antennas.  A thin piece of galvanized steel was shaped to fit in the area under the canopy just behind the rear seat.  We had the canopy installed and moved back and forth to be sure the antennas would not be hit by the canopy frame as it moved, or shielded by the rear cross bar of the frame when the canopy is closed.  This location meets those criteria.   A 3/4" hole was drilled to pass the BNC connector and the miniature USB connector through to the baggage area below.  Both cables will be routed along the right side of the fuselage just below the longeron and canopy deck.  The galvanized steel sheet was chosen since both antennas have magnetic mounts.  The steel will be prepped and painted the same color as the fuselage, then installed with rivets during final assembly.  A 3/4" black plastic plug will have a small hole at its center and a slit to pass the cables to the hole after the connectors are routed though the open hole.

October 17, 2007:  The Wednesday session saw the installation of the windshield with 6-32 screws and spacers for what could be the final time.

The canopy lock handle was also installed with the final tapping of the 8-32 threads in the handle.

October 18, 2007: The Thursday evening session was about the fit of the canopy skirt again.  This whole process is like squeezing a balloon.  You push here, it bulges there.  The rubbing of the fiberglass on the aluminum skin has to be minimized to the point that the shape of the skirt does not severely distort as the canopy is closed and locked.

Everywhere there is a conflict of fiberglass and aluminum, a little bit of trimming is required.  I drew some lines here to show Wendell how much to trim from the canopy skirt in successive cuts until a good fit is achieved when the canopy is closed and locked.

The tail feathers have come off now that the empennage fairing has been sent to the paint shop for finishing prep work before painting.

The canopy latch assembly has been drilled and fitted with the spring that resets the latch when it opens.  The 10-32 screw is also fitted with the crown nut and cotter pin to complete the assembly.

Here is the view of the right front edge of the canopy skirt and the canopy frame.  Wendell has secured the canopy frame to the rollers temporarily.  Since the skirt will be secured with adhesive, not rivets, the large number of 2-inch spaced rivet holes will not be drilled.