Left fuel tank and capacitive sensors

This time we worked on the match drilling the fuel tank stiffner plates to the ribs.  Next it was time to start working on the capacitive fuel sensors (used to give an indication of fuel quantity).  We match drilled the sensor plates to the ribs (the plates go on the inner ribs and give an indication of the fuel quantity) and installed the plate nuts needed to bolt the sensor plates to the ribs.  Finally we worked on modifying the bushings to that we could route the sensor wires.  All in all, it was a productive couple of hours.

One of the fuel tank stiffner plates.

The inboard fuel tank stiffner.

The capacitive fuel sensors and instructions.

Left fuel tank progress

We got back in the groove today and made a lot of progress on the left fuel tank.  We started by match drilling the fuel tank attach brackets to the main spar and the skin to the stiffener that attaches the tank to the wing leading edge.  Next we match drilled the fuel tank (lots of holes to drill and clecos to move).  We then split up and worked on a few tasks simultaneously.  While Darren was machine countersinking the fuel tank skin to the rear fuel tank baffle, Scott was cutting a few different stiffners and brackets for the tank.  We next started working on attaching the plate nuts to the fuel tank attach brackets.  As with all plate nuts we match drilled, deburred, countersunk, prepped, primed and then riveted the plate nuts.  Our final step was to rivet 3 more plate nuts to the main spar.

Scott match drilling the fuel tank attach bracket to the spar. 

Darren working at some part of the process machine countersinking the tank skin. 

The orginal piece of metal. 

The same piece of metal post manufacture by Scott. 

One of the tank pieces yet to be used. 

The manufactured leading edge tank support pieces. 

Darren still working on some machine countersinking the tank skin. 

Left fuel tank brackets and rudder leading edge

We did a few different activities today.  First we match drilled the tank attach brackets to the rear fuel tank baffle and assembled the left fuel tank with clecoes and installed it on the wing for fitting.  Next we decided to wrap up a task from the empennage that we had set aside.  We rolled the rudder leading edge and riveted it together.  It took almost no time to finish it up so I'm not really sure why we waited so long to finish it.  In any case, the rudder is as finished as it will get before the inspection.

A picture of the tank attached to the main section of the wing. 

 A picture of the tank attached to the main section of the wing from another angle.

Scott mach drilling some holes on the rudder's leading edge. 

A close up of the pop rivets used on the rudder's leading edge.