Let's Build a Wing!!!

First put little L flanges onto the wing spar.

Then put the ribs onto the spar but only with clecos, 'cuz you're going to be taking it apart more than a few times.

These little goofy brackets are what hold the leading edge slats out in front of the wing. The little sawtooth thing is to provide a backer for the skin once you've cut a slot for the tab to go through. This is part of what makes the stall speed on this bird so magically low and impressive.

Inside view of the skeleton of what makes up a wing. Notice the little brackets, the massive wing spar, and the relatively short wing chord. Also the great looking dude in blue.

Here is the cool plywood template being used to set the distance for the rear channels. Thanks to Jason, one of my Fort Vancouver students for doing a great cut job!

Whew, all channels are in place. It's time to call it a night, nothing is making sense anymore when we're trying to read the plans. We have the tip channel to go, but I can't read directions at this point. It's 10:57pm, and we got all this done since about 8:00 tonight. I make my expensive mistakes when I'm tired, and there is no way I'm dicing into anything to get the tip cut.

Now it's time for some skins. What a pain getting the nose skin to cover. I think I must have

used every english expletive I knew, then I had a few german ones to throw in too. It worked, only a couple of small wrinkles in the metal.

Whew, all special cuts are made, and nose skin is firmly riveted on. Next it's time to work on the wing tanks.