Flight Controls, Part 3

After finishing the painting of the flap handle and the completion of the wiring harness, it was time to continue the flight controls installation.  First order of business was to install the rod end bearing into the flap handle's pushrod and then connect it to the flap handle.

 Prior to the flap installation, the brake reservoir was installed and then a tee was threaded into the unit followed by the remaining 2 brake lines installed into the tee as shown below in the following 2 pictures.

Next, the flap handle blocks and the flap handle assembly was installed between the seat ribs, on the centerline.

The flap handle pushrod and flaperon mixer were bolted to the flaperon mixer arms as shown below.

The control stick pushrods are now installed from the base of the control sticks to the forward end of the flaperon mixer as shown below.

The flaperon pushrods are attached to the aft end of the flaperon mixer.

 

Another shot of the flaperon pushrods and their forward attach points.

The aft end of the flaperon pushrods are attached to the flaperon torque tubes, which are hinged onto the bearing brackets.

 Next, the flap detent bracket is riveted to the plate and angles in preparation for the fitment of the flap fork assembly inside of the flap handle assembly.

 The flap detent bracket assembly is slid through the flap handle with the internal flap fork assembly, which includes the compression spring.  The detent assembly is screwed into place with shims, which will simulate the cover plate.  During this process, the length of the internal fork assembly is verified to insure that the flap knob (button) does not extend too far beyond the length of the flap handle.  I installed 2 other springs (less stiffness) after builder complaints of the stiffness of the original.  In the end, I chose the original, stiffer spring for my flap handle assembly.  When the flap moves from one position and locks into the next, it sounds like a rifle shot!  Quite a reassurance that the flap handle is locked into its position.