Wing Tips - Section 24
We have decided to make a change from Vans plans on the wing tips installation. Vans uses aircraft hinges for installing the engine cowls and many have adopted this system for installing the wing tips. Below is an excellent article on how it Mike Bullock did it on his RV 7, we plan on using this on our RV 14.
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Using the strap to pull the wing tip into position before match drilling the attach hole to the wing skins
The duck tape is holding the aileron in the proper position based on the alignment tool that is sent in the kit, this is pretty handy and make final alignment much easier. Way to go Van's!
The rib has to be reversed with the flanges toward the aileron to make the hinge pin attachment method work. This meant modifications to get the hinges in the right place. The hinge on the RV 14 goes in further on the bottom than the other RV's so to compensate I came up with this arrangement.
I had to cut off the flange where the hinge extension is and build a new angle flange on the other side of the rib. This allows hinge pin attachment all the way to the aileron. Pretty neat, if I don't say so myself.
This shows the new flange on the inside of the rib. The rivets are common to the flange, rib and hinge.
Even though the tip is a little long, Van does this on purpose so the builder can sand them even with the aileron.
Hinge and rib positioned for riveting
Drilling for the hinges, this was a lot of work, but I think it will pay off in the long run, and I know it will look better.
Hinge attachment holes drilled and countersunk.
Locating the hinges before we cut the flanges from the wing tip.
Rafael countersinking the hinge spacing strip cut from the flange of the wing tip.
We are riveting the hinges to the wing here with the exception of the bottom rear skin. We have left this skin off until the wiring is complete, too many unanswered question yet.
Some final fitting of the tip to the skin joint.
These pieces of hinge is a simple solution to retaining the hinge pin is a very secure way. There is a plate nut on the back side of the rib, remove this #8 screw, pull the pins and the tip is removed.
This is the first cut of the position light lens, there where 3 more to get it close and a lot of sanding with the Proxon belt sander to get a good fit.
a little fitting and then some sanding and then do it 10 more times to get it close.
An FAA picture to show who is doing all this building and documenting.
All done except buffing the edges and fixing a few light scratches that happened in shipping.
