Then I started the same process as I have done for all the other ribs - flute first, check rivet hole alignment on both flanges with a straight edge, then straighten the edges with the flange tool and the rubber hammer method.
Here is the rib after all the straightening and fluting is done.
The hardest part about this is dealing with the optical illusion that you still have a large curve in the nose section, even after you know that it all lays down relatively flat on the bench. This happens because the flanges around the nose that are cut into separate sections are also tapered down. It leaves you with the impression that the rib is curved. You may also noticed other sections of the flange further down that appear to be curved as well. this is where you have to remember that the goal of this exercise is to end up with a row of very straight rivet holes.You must focus on this as the goal since the holes have been prepunched.
If you were doing a full lay up where you would be marking all the hole locations then the goal changes just a bit. In that case you are trying to acheive a flat even web and flanges that are 90 degrees. While this is also the real end goal of the process for the ribs with the prepunched holes, you end up needing to focus more attention on hole alignment since the holes are already positioned on the flange. In the end the flanges still end up at 90 degrees to the web with the holes aligned. SO this is a testament to the CNC process that is used to prepunch and accurately pre=bend all of these parts adn still have then end up looking the way that they are supposed to, with everything in alignment. Simply amazing to me.
and finally a pic of the first pair of tank ribs all nice and straight and almost ready for some proseal! Always amazes me how nice they stack up after this process.
The holes in these ribs act as flow ports that will channel fuel in the fuel tank from one section to the next, from the outward sections back toward the inner sections closest to the fuselage. With full to half full tanks the fuel will move through both the middle and the lower ports. After the fuel depletes it will flow through the bottom port only during straight, level cruising flight. Complimentary beer in the background for some "scale!"
Gearing for Oshkosh now. Should be an awesome event if the weather cooperates. Tried to replace a bad cigarette ligher/aux power plug in my car last weekend. Took me over half a day to figure out that I wasn't even removing the right parts per instructions from my Chiltons manual. Had to resort to Youtube to find excellent home videos that showed the correct way to do it. At least Van's instructions for the aitplane are far above and beyond the crap that you get from the automobile world. For me - a car is just a away to get to the airport. I am definitely not shy in epressing my opinion about others who just love their cars to death. People like that have obviously never had the experience of being free as a bird and not having to hug mother earth all the time. They are truly missing out. But, the other way I look at it is that if the majority of folks are still stuck on the ground salivating over their precious cars, then that means there is more room for me to motor around in the skies above. So be it!
Ron has his engine hanging party for his RV-7 on Saturday. He is installing the same engine that I will more than likely install in my bird - an Aerosport Power Lycoming IO-375. I am so jealous, but at the same time looking so forward to seeing how this is done. One day I will be doing the same thing. I expect that Ron will be flying by this time next year, and so will Steve Riffe for that matter. I'll be knee deep in fuselage rivets and parts (hopefully).
Hopefully I will get finished with a few more ribs tomorrow.
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