That’s a lot of rivets

All drilled out and all put back again, but at last my Savannah’s new screen and cabin roof plastic are in. All that’s left is some finishing off – white silicone sealer around the base of the outside of the screen and a small amount of black acrylic at its foot at the back on the inside. It wasn’t all plain sailing as you’d expect with the rivets having been drilled out for at least the second time in the life of the aircraft but there’s little to show for that and it’s all gone back pretty well. Only I will notice the blemishes.

I’ve also got some new plastic trim to go along the top edge of the instrument panel. The rubber trim that’s on there was only supposed to have been temporary but it’s lasted for ten years. It’s also had the annoying habit of coming off and dropping down at the most inconvenient moments while in flight and hopefully what I’ve got to replace it will be a lot more ‘grippy’. I’ll put it on at the same time as I do the screen sealing which may be tomorrow, I don’t know, as I’ve got an important appointment in Perigueux so it and the sealing may have to wait.

I’m so pleased and relieved to have come to the end of the hard work. Compared to the past few weeks I’m now in the position of having resolved all my computer problems and once I’ve finished off the Savannah’s screen I’ll be able to turn my attention back to the outside of my house and my work in my garden. And who knows, I might even be able to get a few flights in.

I topped the Savannah’s tanks up in March at what turned out to be the end of a long spell of calm weather. The weather then unexpectedly changed the next day and then we had the heatwave during which not only was flying during the day impossible but also in the mornings and evenings due to the high temperatures. We’re still suffering from it to a certain extent. When I left Malbec at 6.00 pm my car temperature gauge was still showing 29 degrees C in the shade.

Below are some shots that I took of my Savannah after I’d cleared up and vacuumed the aircraft out again. Now its exterior needs yet another good wash and I’ll also have to find time, as I did before, to put a dab of white paint on every new pop rivet. And also as the first shot shows, I think that I the last time and the person before me incorrectly fitted the wing root trims. I’ve now fixed them under the front edge of the roof panel which I think is correct because the inner edges of both trims have a sharp corner which I think should be hidden. This is supported by the corners of the roof panel, which are now exposed, being rounded. I’ll have to tidy them up now though as they’re a bit scuffed and dirty looking.