fixed gear vs. retracts

[Kurt Bozarth]

Instead of hardwood torque blocks inside the wing, I bend the music wire
gear back towards the trailing edge.  Nothing goes up into the wing -
nothing to break loose inside the foam cores to result in wobbly gear.
The music wire simply lays flush with the wing skins (along grooved Sig
hardwood landing gear blocks installed). 
 
Kurt 


-----Original Message-----
From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
On Behalf Of Bruce & Sandy
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:01 PM
To: discussion at nsrca.org
Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts


Jeff Hughes has a neat installation on his Jupiter, like the Sig Kougar
uses (and others I imagine).  Torque blocks in the wing and a wire gear.
Maybe he could give some details on torque block installation and
landing gear wire size, etc.  He told me about it at the D4 and D5
shootout.
 
By the way Jeff,  I have just about finished the re-installation of the
fuse mounted fixed gear in the Finesse.  3 times I have knocked it off.
I think the next fixed gear will be wing mounted like your Jupiter.
 
Bruce

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Wayne Galligan <mailto:wgalligan at goodsonacura.com>  
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts

Nats airplane only wieghts about 8lbs and is powered by a .91 size
engine.  The l.g. struts come out of the wing much like a torsion bar
type l.g.  I am not sure how it is mounted in the wing though.  It is
however a rather novel idea.  His stuff is on the edge in design and
asthetics but it really flies good.   The "Vodoo Magic"  flown by Todd
Blose would do everything in the book you could throw at it.
 
Wayne G.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: calvin  <mailto:scully01 at cvtv.net> scully 
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts

Would like to see detail of how Nat Penton uses CF rods to accomodate a
10 to 11 lb model airplane. Like Mr. Ferrell I am interested.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Ferrell <mailto:johnferrell at earthlink.net>  
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts

Keep the articles coming!
If you have a pointer to a picture of the Carbon tubing gear I am sure I
am not the only one interested.
 
I am in total agreement that it is better to make our planes serviceable
rather than indestructible!
 
John Ferrell 
6241 Phillippi Rd
Julian NC 27283
Phone: (336)685-9606  
johnferrell at earthlink.net
Dixie Competition Products
NSRCA 479 AMA 4190  W8CCW
"My Competition is Not My Enemy"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Rcmaster199 at aol.com 
To: discussion at nsrca.org 
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: fixed gear vs. retracts

The composite fixed gear designs of today are quite the overkill in
terms of strength, rigidity and weight. They could be made far lighter,
less rigid and cheaply enough where, as they break on a hard landing,
simply pull the pieces out and toss them. 

My good friend Nat Penton is using regular carbon tubing material for
the struts, and uses a short piece of aluminum rod epoxied in the tube,
to serve as wheel axle. A quick wrapping of kevlar thread, super glued
on the carbon tube where the axle in epoxied, keeps the tube intact.

He is reporting that the struts weigh in at less than 1 oz for both,
with the farings installed to a fully airfoiled section, without the
wheels. The length is 10 inches.

Matt

PS- I prefer retracts to fixed gear for pattern planes except they are
too heavyat around 6 ozs sans wheels. 

My composite gear that I make, come in at about 4 ozs with pants, for
the pair, sans wheels, but will be using Nat's technique to reduce the
weight further with little compromise in strength. I'll probably write
about it for the KF. If you have been following my writings you should
have learned that I have been keeping no secrets.




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