This is the F-872CPP (flap fairing) installed on the right side.
Evidently this fairing is important on the RV-8, that's why it is there but not on the RV-7. As you can see, I attached it with LP4-3 blind rivets. Here's why.
When installing the aft floor, the plan calls for riveting it later. But it also calls for installing the flap bearing blocks so the flaps can be installed and rigged later. The problem I had with all this is it is a lot of work installing the flap bearing blocks and removing them so I opted to rivet the floor and install the blocks and not have to remove them or the floor later. The reason for all this extra work are the flap fairings, the plan calls for them to be installed with -3 flush rivets which need to be bucked from below the floor.
The fairings will not leave the airplane installed with LP-4 blind rivets, I am certain of that. I also roughly calculate the LP-4 rivet drag will result in a loss of .00001 knots of airspeed. Who knows, the mysteries of air flow and drag are profound and there may actually be an increase in speed.
The issue here is getting this machine certified and flying ASAP. As I recall, a call to Vans on this issue revealed it is not big deal.
Rigging the flaps also required a call to Vans.
The flaps are rigged in the up position to the ailerons. The ailerons were rigged according to the specs in the plan, max up and max down, the same on both sides, etc. The problem was the flaps up did not fare against the bottom of the fuselage, they were down about a quarter inch. The ailerons could have been rigged up more to get the flaps to come up to the fuselage but that would have resulted in the ailerons being out of tolerance, so the answer I got was, this is kind of normal, it is no big deal. The flaps could be pulled up more to meet the fuselage but then they would not be aligned with the ailerons. It is better aerodynamically to have them aligned with the ailerons than not. So that's how they are rigged.
The wings are almost ready to be removed so the all the plate nuts can be installed on the inside. Also, the fuel lines will be cut to length, and flared with appropriate fittings. Next time the wings go on they will be there permanently as far as I am concerned.
Oh, another issue with stick length has come to light. The front stick for sure is too long, it will not clear the instrument panel without cutting it down. I cut it down but after installing the PTT cap, it is still too long by about 1/8th of an inch. When you cut yours down, make sure to take enough of it as doing it the second time after the grip and PTT are installed is a pain in the butt. Also, check the back seat stick, my DAR does not like it hitting the front seat back rest.
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