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- Aug 5, 2008
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I'm deep into firewall forward and have just positioned the Comanche nose bowl and attached four channels from firewall to NB. Next step is the upper and lower aluminum panels to lock the nosebowl in place. The Skybolt Builders Guide written by Hale Wallace, Section 13 says: "We recommend reinforcing the lower cowl just ahead of the firewall as this is a high stress area. A piece of soft 1/2" aluminum angle may be used and flush riveted in place."
Since he mentioned soft aluminum I'm assuming one leg of the angle will be shrunk to follow the curve of the lower cowl. My firewall already has a forward facing aluminum angle to attach the lower cowl. Has anyone done this reinforcement, and can you advise me on the orientation and location of this added angle or angles? Has anyone experienced cracking or other problems in this area? Has anyone used another method to beef up the skin in this area, perhaps a doubler? Any ideas or advice would certainly be appreciated, and if the bolt has problems here, good ideas from any other owners or builders of other designs would also be helpful. Thanks--Ed T
Since he mentioned soft aluminum I'm assuming one leg of the angle will be shrunk to follow the curve of the lower cowl. My firewall already has a forward facing aluminum angle to attach the lower cowl. Has anyone done this reinforcement, and can you advise me on the orientation and location of this added angle or angles? Has anyone experienced cracking or other problems in this area? Has anyone used another method to beef up the skin in this area, perhaps a doubler? Any ideas or advice would certainly be appreciated, and if the bolt has problems here, good ideas from any other owners or builders of other designs would also be helpful. Thanks--Ed T
