fixed gear vs. retracts

[Jeff Hughes]

Yeah, it's not the coolest looking, but it is bullet proof and very light weight.  I've belly flopped that plane in and nothing ever even needs straightening. Glad to hear the Finesse is about to come alive again!. Next contest I'll get to is the D4 finale down in Kentucky.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce & Sandy 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 3:01 PM
  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 
    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 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 
        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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