>I hope I don't come across as a nut case here but I could use some advice.
>I am having a grand time building the tail section of an RV9-A. (Wings are
>on order) I am an expert woodworker - so I am not new to tools or
>craftsmanship. However, as I build this plane I catch myself becoming
>paranoid about the quality and safety of what I am doing. With each hole I
>drill and rivit I place, following the plans to the letter, I get tense
that
>if I screw up, someone could die. Is this normal?
I open my weekend seminars with the observation that amateur
airplane builders are fabricating the finest airplanes to have
ever flown. I support that statment as follows:
The folk pounding rivets on an assembly line of an airplane
factory would love to be doing anything DIFFERENT that what
they are doing now. If something gets bent, a little whack here
or some prybar there might make that rivet go into the hole
with a few SMALL hammer whacks . . . if someting breaks,
two supervisors and three inspectors will stand around discussing
the MINIMUM effort needed to LEAGALY push that airplane out the
door.
I've visted some builder's shops where the airplane under
construction had some pretty scary craftsmanship . . . further,
the builder was making modifications to "correct some perceived
screwups in the original design." I'm pleased to note that after
10 or 12 years, those airplanes are STILL under construction
and not much further along than when I last saw them.
You guys are doing a good job because you DO worry. If you don't
know about some aspect of the task, you get on the list, call
another bulder, call the factory, etc. etc. IF and WHEN your
airplane breaks ground for the first time, the MAJOR risks
to it's success will be from silly mistakes (cotter key left
out, fuel line fitting not tightened, pilot skills poorly
adapted to type, etc.) . . . your risk to suffering an
consequence of poor craftsmanship is nil.
The mechanics of putting an airplane together is very conducive
to the "look and feel" method of inspection. If it's smooth,
went together without hammering or sawing, then the completed
task is 100% likely to meet the intent of the designer.
It's right that you question what you don't understand. At some
time in the past we were all right where you are. You're
in right crowd for acquiring understanding and your going
to do just fine. At some time in the future, I predict
your biggest "worry" is picking the right color scheme for
paint and upholstery . . . after all you don't want a machine
of this caliber pulling up to the ramp looking like a teenager's
street rod . . .
Bob . . .
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( Knowing about a thing is different from )
( understanding it. One can know a lot )
( and still understand nothing. )
( C.F. Kettering )
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http://www.aeroelectric.com
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