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Page 13-02 Tie Down Drill & Tap

A

aerofurb

Well Known Member
On Page 13-02 it calls for the AEX on the mainspar to be drilled and tapped for the wing tie-downs.

Does it actually mean tap both mainspar AEX top AND bottom or is the diagram just trying to show left and right spars.

Only bit so far on the plans I can't suss out! :(
 
Tie Downs

You are supposed to do both top and bottom taps. The top skin hole will be #30 unless you decide to open it same as the bottom. But you can open the hole with a unibit later if you want. The top tie down could be used for wing handling or storage purposes, and so Van's engineers included it in the design. I talked to Ken at Van's about this a few months ago when I was at that point in the construction.
 
Thanks for the info Tony. I did wonder about a ground handling/storage reason but hadn't got as far as looking at the wing skins.
 
As Tony stated tap both the top and bottom AEX. If you don't plan to remove the wings for storage or travel, leave the #30 holes in the top skins and put a rivet in them.

Art Pennanen
 
Hi Art

There's a good chance the wings will be off for storage from time to time (we don't have the amount of space you lot in the States have!) as well as transportation so I may well open up the holes and put a grommet in there until they're required.

It's got me thinking how the top and bottom 'tie down' holes could be used to fix on some kind of rotating rig on a trolley to allow storage and one person rigging. Might be something to do when the aeroplane is finished!
 
You guys down under are getting me fired up. Since finishing my 12 I really need to get back into the build mode. I am just going to have find a plane ticket and come, visit and help with your builds. Heck, the snow is supposed to fly tomorrow night for the first time this winter here in Iowa.
 
MartySantic said:
You guys down under are getting me fired up. Since finishing my 12 I really need to get back into the build mode. I am just going to have find a plane ticket and come, visit and help with your builds. Heck, the snow is supposed to fly tomorrow night for the first time this winter here in Iowa.
Click to expand...

Have plane, will travel......south only. ;)

Any builders in HI that could use my assistance?
 
Fitting my lower left wing skins currently and wondering what most have done with the tie down points. I have put a thread top and bottom and will for sure opened up the lower hole with a unibit and wondering if I should do the top as well, do you see the hole?

What a dilemma to have bottom only or top and bottom!!
 
I threaded top and bottom, but only openned the hole on the bottom. I will most likely just put a rivet in the top hole. It can always be openned later if desired.
 
What about lifting the plane?

Daft thought - glass of wine in hand, cheers ;-)

Are the wing tie downs close to the CofG? Would the top threads and their mounting be strong enough to support the plane? If so, I could lift the plane into the roof of the hangar and have no hangarage charges.

Cheers...Keith
 
AEX Tie Down Tap

Jason,
tap them both while you have the best opportunity. Just be sure to use a tap with the correct thread pitch. Hmm, just curious...are you fellows "across the pond" using a metric tap? or the same 3/8x24 that we are here?
All the best,
Dave.
Kit #121 going slowly.
 
DaveWelch said:
Jason,
tap them both while you have the best opportunity. Just be sure to use a tap with the correct thread pitch. Hmm, just curious...are you fellows "across the pond" using a metric tap? or the same 3/8x24 that we are here?
All the best,
Dave.
Kit #121 going slowly.
Click to expand...

Do you mean 3/8 x16 5/16 Drill 71% thread

Not 3/8 X24 Drill 21/64 78% thread or Q Drill 71% thread

Joe Dallas

www.joesrv12.com
 
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Same as you - your tools!

Bought my toolkit from Avery, so using the same stuff as our stateside cousins. I'm old enough that my spanners (wrenches) are imperial also - the only tools I had that are useable, apart from a hammer ;-)

Cheers...Keith_from_the_UK_and travelling_to_Oshkosh_Sunday
 
Like Keith I brought an Avery tool kit so have all the required tools as some of it would prove tricky to get over here although I do smile when I read about metric sized nuts and bolts on the engine install.

You try getting #30 drills at a UK DIY shop!! We are able to source most bits from a couple of specialists and shipping for light weight stuff ain't to bad from America.
 
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Page 13-02 Tie Down drill and tap

joedallas said:
Do you mean 3/8 x16 5/16 Drill 71% thread

Not 3/8 X24 Drill 21/64 78% thread or Q Drill 71% thread

Joe Dallas

www.joesrv12.com
Click to expand...

Yes Joe, good catch. Thanks!
It is indeed 3/8x16 for the Wing tie-down, BUT 3/8x24 for the Flaperon Pivot Bracket on page 18-02. If you glance at the picture on 18-02 and proceed to use the same tap as before, you will have the opportunity to order more AEX and fabricate another set of Pivot Brackets AND order the correct Tap which they do not carry at Home Depot (ask me how I know).
Sorry for the confusion earlier.
Dave.
 
Tie down rings

Are the tie down rings that screw into the holes being discussed in this thread included with the kit(s)? I could have sworn I had some, but now cannot find any with my kits. I do not see them in the inventory either.

If they were included could anyone please tell me which kit or kits they were included in?

Thanks,
 
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