Static Port

I don't have much to show for progress today.  I was ready to do the final drilling of the steps to the inside support block and baggage ribs, but it turned out that the drill bit I had was too long to fit.  Because of the tight quarters, I have to use a right angle drill, so I had purchased a 3/16" hex bit that would work in my right angle drill attachment (the one that can just be chucked into another drill).  I thought I'd go that route because the bits are so much easier to get than the pneumatic right angle bits that are threaded.  I received the hex bit today, only to realize that I can't fit it and the angle drill attachment in between the baggage ribs.  So instead of finishing up the steps today, I broke down and found a single 3/16" threaded bit on ebay.  I tried other industrial supply shops, but none of them would sell single bits, and if they did, they wouldn't ship them unless I had at least a $50 order.

I just clamped  the steps in place and moved on to a few odds and ends.  I riveted the F-787 stiffener in place, as well as the little angle bracket at the aft side that connects it to that bulkhead.  Of course, after I had done that I realized that by doing this, one of the top skin to bulkhead rivets will be impossible to buck.  I could drill out the rivets from the angle bracket, but putting those in after the skin would be an absolute nightmare as well.  So I think I'll probably just leave it and use a single pop rivet in that location instead (Van's approves the use of certain pop rivets in replacement of 3- rivets).

Since I'm kind of twiddling me thumbs until I get the drill bit for the steps, I decided to bite the bullet and drill holes for the static source.  I'm not a big fan of Van's approach for this, so I'm using a third party setup that I purchased.  It's a kit that includes all of the plumbing and fixtures for the pitot/static runs.  I used the standard Van's location (one on each side about 2/3 back the tailcone), but did move the hole about a 1/2" forward so that the fixture would clear the bulkhead flange on the inside.  While Van's approach to making a static port is to use a pop rivet with the shank popped out, this setup is a nicely machined port that lays flat on the inside of the skin and just protrudes a small amount on the outside.

I could rivet the port in place, but that seems like overkill.  The company says proseal on the inside surface works just as well, so that's what I ended up doing.  Once the proseal cures I will start putting the fittings and static lines in place.