Smoke tank mount

9/24/2011

I spent some time working on the Pitts at the hangar tonight. I got two of the three new tubes welded up for the smoke tank hardpoints. The first is a cross piece that will have two bushings installed for the front tank bolts. The second two tubes pick up the first on each end of the mount and connect to the clusters that used to have the rear bungee hooks. I forgot the camera, so no pictures yet. The rear of the tank will bolt through two bushings that will get welded to the cross tube that mounts the front torque tube bearing. I will need to add a couple gussets to pick up the bending loads there.

I pulled the clamps off the aileron when I got home. The LE ply glued up well and looks pretty good. There was one spot where a clamp was loose on the spar. The plywood lifted and didn't bond to the spar. It will be an easy fix with a little epoxy and a couple clamps. I can hold the ply in place by hand and it lays down fine. I'll probably get that glued tomorrow. The aileron stayed straight and is much stiffer now, even with just one skin attached.

It's good to be making progress again.


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