aluminum l.g.

[Wayne Galligan]

I should have known.   Karl you are the aluminum man.   BTW the header you made for my ST2330 has survived a major crash.  It got bent a little, just put it in the vise and straightened it out to live in another airplane.

Where can one purchase this fine aluminum and how much should it cost?

Sounds like you  could come close to the weight of c.f.  Although I like the swept back gear design for some airplane designs.
.
Wayne Gallilgan
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Karl G. Mueller 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 11:46 AM
  Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts


  Wayne,

  7075T6 should never be used as landing gear. It will fracture
  when trying to bend it. A better choice would be 2024T3. This is the
  springiest type of aluminum available. Since a lot of suppliers do not
  have it as a stock item, 6061T6 is the next best type to use and is readily 
  available at most metal suppliers. I have been using legs made out of
  1/8" - 6061T6 and had very good results with it. Total weight of the 2 legs
  without wheels and pants is 6oz. The gear legs are of the plug-in type and
  overlap inside the Fuse. I have one set that has outlived 3 planes and is 
  still in use. 
  I seen too many carbon gears break on heavy landings (read semi crashes)
  and to replace these is not cheap. I buy a sheet of 24"x 48 " and cut the legs
  from this. You have to remember to cut the legs with the grain running along the
  legs and not across (yes, metal also has a grain to it !). The bend at the
  upper part of the leg should be done over a large radius (1 1/4" to 1 1/2" Dia.)
  Do not make any sharp bends and the alum. will not fracture.
  This works for me.

  Karl G. Mueller
  kgamueller at rogers.com
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