Wendell Folks RV-8 Project - Page 74.

December 11, 2007:  The folks at Dynon published a service bulletin on the EDC-10A.  It was an easy fix to assure accurate low temperature readings from the type 2 outside air temperature probe.  Diode D3 had to be removed.   The service bulletin showed the location of the part in a color photograph.   It took just about five minutes to open the box and remove the part.  My older unit was built prior to the introduction of the type 2 OAT probe used with the newer EDC-10A units.  Since this involved modifications to the electronic circuitry, not to the airplane, I did this work on the surface-mount components of the unit.  Wendell does not solder anything.  I guess it helps having a degree in electrical engineering.

The flap fairing installation is the next step after Wendell finished calibrating the UP position of the flaps to match the ailerons on both sides.  I laid the fairing up on the raised LEFT flap before we began this initial fit of the flap fairing.  We both spent a lot of time on our creepers looking up at the inboard ends of the flaps and the bottom skins of the fuselage.  We had the print under there with us to show Wendell exactly how Van's intended to fit this fairing to the intersection of the flap and the fuselage.  We also called another builder to confirm how his fairings were installed.

The paint guy has been working on the windshield interface with the fuselage.   It was very warm here today and the hangar was open to vent the fumes from this work.  When I came in for this evening's session, he had sanded down the fiberglass and the first stage of filler to a smooth aerodynamic transition.  Before he left, he put on the filler you see here in preparation for the final treatment before painting the airplane.  He has also been working on the canopy over in the other shop.

Wendell finished installing the lights into the fiberglass wing tips.   After the lights are connected and the wing tips are installed, the LANDING lights must be aligned with the airplane that is now in a level position.  After that, the tail wheel will be lowered to the floor and the TAXI lights will then be aligned to illuminate the way ahead.  Wendell really wants to get the airplane down on all three wheels.  I told him we had to finish this part of the assembly before the tail wheel comes down.  I also reminded him that he could more easily lose his footing when the airplane is tail low.  The non-skid wing walks won't be installed until the airplane is fully painted.

December 12, 2007:  The left side flap fairing is beginning to go into position.  There were no holes in the area where the clecoes are shown.  Wendell had to use a 12-inch long #40 drill to go from the outside through the inside floor ribs, then run that same drill from the inside OUT while I held the fairing in the correct location with a wooden block.  After each hole was back-drilled from inside, a cleco was added until the front set of holes were drilled.   The process is repeated for the other side.

The wires on the left wing tip are ready to be plugged into the lights in the fiberglass wing tip.  A protective spiral wrap was added to the wires to prevent chafing inside the wing tip when the wires lay in place there.

December 13, 2007:  Wendell is putting in half of the 4-40 screws that secure the wing tip.  This is in preparation for the alignment of the landing lights and the taxi lights on each wing.  We successfully tested each light and the strobes.

Here is a view of the flap fairing after Wendell had match-drilled all the holes in the fuselage in preparation for final riveting.