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Old 05-20-2013, 06:45 AM
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Popriv
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Default RE: How to repair this


ORIGINAL: JohnBuckner

Good morning Steve The more critical of your repairs is the wing separation so that is the one I am going address. You cannot but glue back together and just fiberglas any thickness that is an inflight failure just waiting to happen. Now the problem is that it is very difficult to attempt to remove an original spar that is inlaid between a top and bottom spar as well webs either front or rear or both for a box section.

The best solution to at least have the original strength or better is surgery, removing sheeting (far easier if top and bottom) and cutting a spar doubler. You can use just a single front or rear as well as both for ultimate strength and of course if you choose both you can use a thinner doubler.

This doubler should go out as far as the original and be the full depth of the wing no less. Use only birch aircraft plywood. The affected first and second bay ribs will need to be cut back a quarter inch or so and after the doubler(s) are epoxied in the small gap is filled in with sheet of the same thicknerss Finally the resheeting is done.
Thanks John, I agree. I dont want the wing folding up on me. So I will cut back the sheeting ( top or bottom? ) to expose the existing spar. cut away the ribs and laminate a new spar to the front and back of whats there. ( better Idea when I get in and see it ) then repair the ribs I cut and replace the sheeting.
The new spar will not be boxed in like the original! just epoxied to the frontg and back of the original spar box.
So, open it up and rebuild the spar area.

Now it looks like the wing will be the more difficult part of the rebuild.. I have until October when we have our next big float events.. lol

thanks again.