Installed the Static System

Not too much work on the project today. Installed the static system. After receiving an answer from the VAF forums and a friend I ended up pulling both of the rivets until they snapped. There was plenty of "meat" inside the fuselage to attach the 1/8" tubing. I tried to just partially pull one of the rivets but it continued to spin in the hole. After snapping both, it was time to punch out the mandrels with a 1/16" punch. One of the mandrels came out with a couple of small taps. The other required a few large raps. Backed up the skin with a piece of wood with a hole in it. Adam assisted here cause it takes 3 hands to do this. Attaching the nylon tubing to the "T" was a bit challenging. After about an hour of trying different unsuccessful methods, here is what I ended up doing. I first put a 1/4" length of 1/8" tubing on the T. Then I put the T in the freezer for about fifteen minutes to harden the 1/8" tubing. Then heated the nylon tubing end a bit by placing it in hot, just boiled water. Shook out the moisture and inserted the nylon tubing over the 1/8" tubing on the T. Worked well for me. Picked up some RTV and RTV'd the 1/8" tubing to static port pop-rivet. Mel on the VAF forums suggested to use "electronic" grade RTV as it is much more friendly to aluminum. Will let it sit overnight to cure. Upper right/left skins and top skin tomorrow, that is, if the NFL becomes boring. Hoping for Arizona and Pitt. That would make a good Superbowl.

UPDATE: Here is a static system rivet hint from Mike Tea, received June 2009. "I drilled a 3/16 inch hole thru a block of wood to fit over the static system rivet on the inside of fuselage. An LP4-3 rivet mandrel is smaller than static air rivet mandrel. Cut one off to about 3/8 inch and started it into static port. Then used a C clamp to press the LP4 mandrel into the static port pushing the mandrel head out. Came out pretty easy. Just takes 3 hands."

Time - 2 hours Total Empennage - 96.5 hours Wings (Complete) - 175 hours