Rib stitching top stringers

[rodsmith]

I recall some discussion about rib stitching the first couple feet of top stringers from the forward attach point just to make sure the fabric can't start to detach. In my case my top fabric starts at the rear spar, everything forward is skylight. I will have a 1 1/2" glue seam and that is covered with lexan and an aluminum trim strip on top of that. I'm really not concerned with it being secure. A few stitches wouldn't hurt but I would have to find or make a semi-circular needle.

[AZBearhawk272]

Rod I did ribstitch to the stringers the first 24 inches aft
of the skylight termination.

#272

[whee]

I did not rib stitch aft of my skylight and I’m confident it doesn’t need it. Stewart’s glue is very strong so you could glue the fabric to the stringers after shrinking if it wanted.

[Rollie]

I haven't seen that on a certified aircraft. Maybe some have it, I haven't seen them all. I didn't do it on mine, it never even crossed my mind to do it. I only have a little over a hundred hours on my Patrol so far but no issues.

[Mark Goldberg]

You would never notice the need to do this unless someone from another plane is looking at the top fabric billowing up. Perhaps visible to pilot. But it took someone in another plane to point this out to me. Mark

[Ray Strickland]

On my 4-place I stitched to the ends of the T2 tubing. It is a high-lift area for the fuselage. Only took about an hour. Better to do it before covering & painting than to not do it and wish I had.