I started by positioning the side window frame aligning the bottom edge of it with the stringer and clamped it in place:
March 20, 2011
The fixed windows run from the aft end of the main cabin door opening all the way back to the baggage compartment behind the rear seat. They are shown in detail on drawing 17 and are made from 5052 aluminum. To make things easy on myself, I ordered the side window frames from Avipro.
The bottom of the window attaches to the top side stringer and the aft main
cabin door opening former.
I started by positioning the side window frame aligning the bottom edge of
it with the stringer and clamped it in
place:
I split the window frame and slid it over the door former with one side of
the window frame on each side of the
former.
This will leave me a way to slip the plexiglass in later. I will
also make a piece of angle to go over this opening and be screwed to the
door opening former.
Here is what it looks like from the inside with the window frame clamped
to the former:
The bottom of the window frame is stabilized by the stringer but the top side is just kind of hanging there and needs something to stabilize it as well.
I used 3/4" x 3/4" square aluminum tube that is 1/16" thick. This was
purchased from the airplane parts section of the local hardware
store.
The square tube is the same width as the surrounding tubes on fuselage
so fabric covering should be a nice smooth transition.
The mounting brackets for the 3/4"square tube were made the same as the stringer
clips only larger. They were positioned and welded to the vertical tubes
and the diagonal tube at the aft
end:
Here is the square tubes from inside the
cockpit:
The side window frame was drilled to the stringer at it's bottom and to the
square aluminum tube at it's top. Here it is drilled and clecoed in
place::
Here it is from the
inside:
This system makes a very rigid, yet light-weight installation for the rear side windows. I will later make a cover piece for the forward end of the window channel where the plexiglass slides in. This removable cover piece will be attached to the main cabin door opening former with screws.
