Center Fuselage Floor Ribs and Landing Gear Channel

The landing gear channel and the center fuselage floor ribs were assembled. The channel runs parallel to the center wing carrythrough (the blue assembly, which comes pre-assembled from the factory) and perpendicular to the ribs. Rivnuts were set in the channel with a new tool, and the ribs were temporarily assembled with 3.2mm copper clecos before riveting. The assembly was straightforward, but the center 2 ribs needed some light taps from a dead blow hammer to fit onto the landing gear channel. The photos follow the build sequence.

Rivnuts and Landing Gear Channel

Landing gear channel with rivnuts installed along the flange and web. Rib parts laid out against the landing gear channel, with rivnuts installed. More of the floor rib parts laid out. The ribs came bent this way from the factory. Rivnuts were installed. All the floor rib parts laid out, with rivnuts installed where appropriate.

Clecoing and Riveting

First ribs held to the landing gear channel with copper clecos. Ribs fitted over the channel, some riveted and the rest still clecoed. A dead blow hammer was used to tap the center ribs into place. More ribs riveted, the remaining ones still clecoed to be riveted later.

Assembled Ribs

Floor ribs and landing gear channel assembled. Assembly set in front of the center wing carrythrough. Another view of the assembly next to the center wing carrythrough.

Tools

• Rivnut tool for installing the rivnuts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDFZV6Z