 01Oct03-05Oct03, 16 hours - Built
up the forward baggage compartment bulkhead. I built the bulkhead
as part of a shelf, in order to provide for a spot to put small bits
within reach, and to form the front edge of a false floor.
Rearward of the shelf are aluminum rails from Menards, meant as trim
for hanging mirrors. The rail has a 1/4" slot that will
receive the top edge of the carpet, and which also forms a narrow rail
on which the floor will rest. A  panel
forming the false floor fills the 24"x12"x17" trapezoid
aft of the shelf. The compartment under the floor will house the
ELT, and provide hidden & secure storage for tools, oil, tiedowns
and anything that should be kept out of sight.
The rail can be seen in the picture covered in green tape. The
dark area parallel to and just aft of the seatback is the remains of the
first seatback bracket installation. The original installation was
moved too agressively aft for legroom, and caused trouble fitting the
seat foam. The current location is now 1" aft of stock.
The top edge of the seatback will be cut back next, and I'm now
working on an enclosure above the tunnel that will be accessed  through
a hole in the seatback. This will provide a 'glove box' for
flashlights, spare radio, charts, oxygen bottle, etc..
10Oct03-28Oct03 - 16 hours - Completed baggage compartment fitup.
Moved on to autopilot installation. I've removed the Navaid, and
am installing the 2-axis TruTrak Digiflight II instead. This will
integrate better with the CNX80, and provide vertical capability as
well. The elevator actuator is mounted on hardpoints aft of the
control tunnel, very  close
to, but not quite touching the port rudder cable. To avoid
potential fouling between the two, I fabricated a 'passive' fairlead to
retain the cable.
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