HS frame question

[g_e_young]

So I've got the front and rear spars put together, and now it's time to drill in all the ribs in the correct locations. I'm curious if I should drill them in the locations per the plans, or should I pull out the skins and place them on the spars to see -exactly-where the ribs should so so that the skin and ribs will match exactly along the edges.

Many thanks!

grant-

[arffguy]

Am I correct to assume that these are pre-punched skins without the ribs being pre-punched? Jig or no jig?

[bmurrish]

The ribs are pre-punched as well. Grant, are you talking about drilling the flanges on the right and left center forward ribs?

[g_e_young]

Sorry about the lack of clarity. I'm talking about drilling the HS 404 and 405 ribs to the front and rear spar assemblies (and indirectly to eachother) per bullet point 2 under "Drilling the Horizontal Stabilizer" in the instructions. These particular flanges are not predrilled.

Many thanks, grant-

[tshort]

I drilled these in assembly with the skins clecoed in place - this allows you to keep everything rigid and confirm that the placement is correct. I think that's how the manual says to do it.

You do drill the pilot holes as per the plans / measurements, but the final holes are drilled in assembly.


Thomas

[g_e_young]

Super...thanks a bunch. Now it makes total sense. I've now read the instructions about 20 times and I'm frankly not sure what Van's is trying to communicate, but I think the way you did it makes perfect sense.

Thanks so much!

grant

[l & d lewis]

Grant.....Draw a line with a sharpie down the center of the rib flange that you can see through the holes in the skin. Its just a good check to make sure you are drilling in the center of the flange, depending on your fluting technique the rib may not be perfectly straight........Larry