Installing canopy without tailcone

[ymc9]

Hello guys,

I've read that many people recommend mating the tail cone as late as possible, and I'm planning to do it that way. Right now, my fuselage is in the garage, and the tail cone is in the hangar. I want them to see each other as late as possible.

I'm wondering if it's possible to finish all canopy work (frame + plexiglass, except for the fairing) without even having the tail cone temporarily clecoed. Reading the canopy manuals, it appears the only dependency on the rear fuselage is that the alignment of the canopy skirt requires the turtle deck skin to be present, but I believe I can cleco the turtle deck to the roll bar and baggage bulkhead.

Is this a good plan, or have I missed anything that can potentially cause alignment issues later? Thanks!

 

[jsalley]

Is this a good plan, or have I missed anything that can potentially cause alignment issues later? Thanks!

Sounds like a good plan to me! You can do the canopy fairing as well, as long as you’ve installed the forward upper fuselage skin (avionics bay cover). Your plan to temporarily install the turtle skins to locate the canopy skirt should also work.

 

[ravenstar]

I have done this with my build and advised the student group I'm working with to do the same thing. One minor difference is that I chose to cleco my tail cone onto the fuselage temporarily in case it affected the shape or rigidity of the aft bulkhead. After I had all the holes drilled in the baggage windows I took the tail cone off and finished all the canopy work. I'm not sure I needed to attach the tailcone in retrospect, but it didn't take more than a half hour to put it on and take it off so I decided to be over cautious. For certain, it's much easier to finish the work with the tail cone removed and I can't imagine doing it any other way. It proved fortunate given the most recent service bulletin, too.

 

[dnimigon]

Hello guys,

I've read that many people recommend mating the tail cone as late as possible, and I'm planning to do it that way. Right now, my fuselage is in the garage, and the tail cone is in the hangar. I want them to see each other as late as possible.

I'm wondering if it's possible to finish all canopy work (frame + plexiglass, except for the fairing) without even having the tail cone temporarily clecoed. Reading the canopy manuals, it appears the only dependency on the rear fuselage is that the alignment of the canopy skirt requires the turtle deck skin to be present, but I believe I can cleco the turtle deck to the roll bar and baggage bulkhead.

Is this a good plan, or have I missed anything that can potentially cause alignment issues later? Thanks!

Just wondering why you want to leave the tail cone off. Is it a lack of space in your garage.

 

[ravenstar]

Just wondering why you want to leave the tail cone off. Is it a lack of space in your garage.

Access to the components behind the baggage compartment is my reason for delaying the tail cone attachment. The fuel pumps, filters, and some avionics related components go back there and it's no small feat for someone my size to get back there.

 

[ymc9]

Sounds like a good plan to me! You can do the canopy fairing as well, as long as you’ve installed the forward upper fuselage skin (avionics bay cover). Your plan to temporarily install the turtle skins to locate the canopy skirt should also work.

Thanks, John, great to know that. Yes, I'm working on fwd upper skin and also thinking about the fairing. Need to heat my garage to a proper temperature for the resin to work ...

 

[ymc9]

I have done this with my build and advised the student group I'm working with to do the same thing. One minor difference is that I chose to cleco my tail cone onto the fuselage temporarily in case it affected the shape or rigidity of the aft bulkhead. After I had all the holes drilled in the baggage windows I took the tail cone off and finished all the canopy work. I'm not sure I needed to attach the tailcone in retrospect, but it didn't take more than a half hour to put it on and take it off so I decided to be over cautious. For certain, it's much easier to finish the work with the tail cone removed and I can't imagine doing it any other way. It proved fortunate given the most recent service bulletin, too.

Thanks. I'm also a bit worried about the possible slight change of geometry with/without the cone. I'll cleco the turtle deck skins on and feel how stable it is.

 

[ymc9]

Just wondering why you want to leave the tail cone off. Is it a lack of space in your garage.

Yes, before I started the fuselage I decided to haul the tail and wings away to have some good space.

 

[henrysamson]

I build my canopy without the tail cone installed. My aircraft is now complete (inspection tomorrow!) and there are no issues with the fit of the canopy after the tail cone was installed. I was worried about this also but I had no choice due to space.

Henry

 

[ymc9]

I build my canopy without the tail cone installed. My aircraft is now complete (inspection tomorrow!) and there are no issues with the fit of the canopy after the tail cone was installed. I was worried about this also but I had no choice due to space.

Henry

Thanks, Henry! Great to know.

 

[unladenswallow]

I installed the canopy, engine and avionics before connecting the tailcone, because my garage wasn't long enough to accommodate the full length for the aircraft. No resulting issues.