Tag: Lights

Wings, components

Right wing landing light lens fitting underway.

Right wing landing light lens fitting underway.

Right wing landing light lens fitting underway.

Right wing landing light lens fitting underway.

Right wing landing light lens fitting underway.

Unfortunately, when I unclecoed the lens after taking this photo, I discovered that four of the eight holes had radiating cracks. I’m absolutely mystified as to why. Temp was about 100F, a plexiglass drill bit was utilized, and proper technique was observed.

So, tomorrow I get to order a replacement lens and run through the whole fitting procedure again later this week when it arrives. What a complete PITA!!!!

Airplane building 101, unfortunately…

Wings, Firewall Forward in process

Left wingtip nav light installed.

Left wingtip test fit again – this time to see if my screw countersinks fit the skin dimples. Success!

Wingtip rib installation underway.

Left wingtip ready to mount on the wing.

Left wingtip mounted for good (hopefully) and ready for flight.

Left wingtip mounted for good (hopefully) and ready for flight.

Battery, ground strap, and starter relay power cable installed.

Wings, fuselage mounting continued…

Wingtip nutplate installation in process. Lots of holes to drill and countersink prior to riveting nutplates in place.

With all of the nutplates riveted, I installed the nav light mount seen here.

Unfortunately, I then discovered that the electrical connector half (of the awful, open-barrel “Molex” type) received with the wing kit last summer and installed back when I built the wing doesn’t match the connectors included with the very nice AeroLED nav lights. A typical Van’s situation.

Rather than wait for a matching connector half to arrive, I think I’ll trash the original Molex half and go with the matching bits from the nav light box. A project for tomorrow…