Chapter 9 – Landing Gear
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Generally no problems, except final installation. Was meticulous about tabs, holes, installing bulkhead bushings, and test-fitting.but with final installation gear tabs didnÕt align in the fuselage bulkheads (aligned at forward tabs, but off by 1/16Ó each side at rear bulkhead). I opened holes in rear attach tabs on MG strut, positioned / floxed carefully. Final installation required banging in the attach rods with a wooden mallet. The right leading gear edge was ~1Ó ahead of left. I emailed Nat, who said is average mounting point for axles need to be FS110, lest rotation speed be affected (Vance Atkinson is an example). Whew! Re-drew locations and checked on axles - 110.5 for left and 109.5 for right axle should leave plenty of strut material behind both locations. No need to re-work struts / tabs / mental asylum arrangements!
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Finding mid-point on strut using plumb line. |
I did the sanding outside, hearing how nasty the s-glass fibers are. HereÕs belt-sanding the trailing edge flat (up to 1/8Ó) per plans. |
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And hereÕs the first layup over the tube/alum tape. |
MG strut in place for tab construction. After much alignment and measuring, it was clear my MG was slightly torqued, and I had to clamp it against the backboard for everything to be square. |
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Generally things are aligned well and level, although a 1/8Ó torque still is evident at leading edge plumb lines to FS |
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Outside tab layups in place. I noticed the drawings (M9) showed a full 1/2Ó thick tab for the layups, and mine are 3/8Ó thick. IÕm trusting this will give a bit more room in the gear space between bulkheads, and can be ÒfilledÓ with washer-spacers? Anyways, double checked I didnÕt miss anything in the plans. |
Made a cirular template (stop right) to trace tab outline. Sabre saw with metal cutting blade went quickly throu the 45 plies. |
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Tabs shaped |
LG Cover (unskinned)... |
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Éand skinned. |
Gear installed. CanÕt tell thereÕs a 1Ó mis-alignment due tow gear warp and/or poor construction discipline (by moi). But salvageable. |
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Maybe hard to see, but my laser level aiming at the alignment board sidding on my truck. |
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HereÕs my alignment target. IÕve written down what all the symbols mean, somewhere! |
Matco brakes installed. Thanks Bernard Siu for the templates (perfect fit, plus the heat shield) |
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Closer up – heat shield in place. |
Landing brake glassed, and cut. I have several more pictures – installed the electric actuator, followed modified plans for cutting hole, etc., and no problems. Main ÔstruggleÕ was getting the 45* hinge anchored flush in the foam. Ended up cutting more than desired, but filled the entire recess with flox. |
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On itÕs legs. Two at least. |
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