Up early today, I managed 3.0 in the garage before anyone woke up.

The other day, I drilled #21 holes for the ER Tank attach nutplates. Today, I wanted to get started on the nutplates for both sets of tanks.

I began by drilling the nutplate attach holes. Because there are existing leading edge skin holes prepunched, I was careful to “clock” the nutplate to maximize edge distance.

Here’s a shot after it’s riveted.

After doing 5 of those, I wanted something more mind-numbing, so I moved to the pre-punched nutplate attach holes for the standard tanks.

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Then I got busy. Final-size holes to #40, countersink. Cleco nutplate in, rivet one side, remove cleco, rivet other side.

Not sure what this picture is. Perhaps just an upside down shot of me making sure I got the nutplate ON the rivet.

Another in-process shot. Each nutplate is half-riveted, ready to accept the rest of the rivets.

3.0 hours so far. 240 rivets for the standard tank nutplates, then 14 more from the ER tank nutplates. 1 drilled out. We’ll see if I get back out to the garage later today. Time for breakfast!