Sonex 1470 – The Journey

Left Panel Ready for Riveting, Cross Tie Box Assembly

Today wrapped up the left panel and it is ready for riveting now. Also went ahead and started on the Cross Tie Box assembly. Before calling it a night managed to cleco the whole box together. I still need to trim the channel edges but overall I was very happy with my progress today

Left Side Panel deburring

Today went went snow tubing with the kids so all I managed to get done was deburring the channels and the longerons

Left Aft Panel Updrilled

Tonight went ahead and up-drilled the left aft side panel. I still need to debur the longerons, skins, splice plates etc and then put it all back together

Right Aft Panel Updrilled and debuured

Today went ahead and up drilled, deburred and clecoed the right aft side panel back together. I will wait and get the left panel as well and the tie cross tie box assembly together and rivet all the pieces in a  single go.

Misc Parts Formed

Since I am still waiting on my new order of rivets and the welded tail mount from Sonex, I went ahead and formed the two missing parts that will be needed to join the two side panels

Splice plates drilled and clecoed

Tonight, attached the upper and lower splice plates to both the Aft fuselage side panels

Fuselage Aft Side Panel Continued

Tonight, I went ahead and drilled and clecoed the channels to right side panel. After that drilled and attached longerons to left panel. After that I enlisted my wife’s help again to hold the panel while I drilled and clecoed the channels

I still need to attach the splice plates to both the panels.

Right Aft Side Panel Assembly Started

I have been traveling a lot for work lately so the progress has been very slow. Today, went ahead and cut of the inspection and the rudder cable holes in both the aft skins.

After that started on the assembly of the right aft side panel. Completed drilling and attaching the upper and lower longerons. I still need to trim the extra length of he longeron since I used a 120″ piece of 1 x 1 angle stock I got from Trident. I will do so before final deburring.

Also went ahead and clamped the channels in place. I will get my wife to help hold the panel while drilling and attaching the channels to save time.

Aft Fuselage Side Skin Drilled

Tonight I finished drilling all the pilot holes in the right aft side skin and then used it as a template for second side skin

Aft Fuselage Side Skins marked Up

Tonight went ahead and marked up and trimmed the aft fuselage side skins to the final dimensions. Marked all the pilot hole locations on the right skin. Once that is drilled I will use it as a template for the left skin