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Experimental Shock Options and Reviews

I have traditional bungees, plus a FOX airshock to control the rebound, and when I faired the entire assembly I gained well over 5 mph, closer to 7-8, BUT I just remembered I also covered the gear legs at the same time, with a fairing on the aft gear leg. Climb also went up, extra drag hurts in all aspects of flight besides cruise, less range, less glide etc., so I get rid of all I can. Experimental.
 
I gained 3 MPH on streamlined covers on AOSS shocks on Husky, 5 MPH on extended cub gear leg fairings. They both make a big difference than uncovered.
John
 
I was thinking in terms of stretchy material for covering shocks, the material can move with the shock travel and not bunch up causing more drag like conventional bags.
Made some covers out of 4mm neoprene. They’re held on with Velcro.
Doubt they’ll be very durable and will get discolored from exhaust in short order.
Ill update with results after some flying.

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I would suggest you talk to Mr. TK1, Tony. I have talked to him three times over the last two years on this. He has spent a lot of money developing covers and testing effects on speed. He has customers that have spent a lot of time and money including with computer modeling software. He has tested with several different A/C including our favorite. Results are very different than some are reporting. Basically, the best reason to put covers on is if you want to use them on certified A/C ala MacCatto. 8)
 
I was thinking in terms of stretchy material for covering shocks, the material can move with the shock travel and not bunch up causing more drag like conventional bags.
Made some covers out of 4mm neoprene. They’re held on with Velcro.
Doubt they’ll be very durable and will get discolored from exhaust in short order.
Ill update with results after some flying.

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ok, scrap that idea, trailing edge of material must be flapping like hell during flight.
can feel buffeting thru the airframe
 
Try some thin Lexan, it's tough stuff, use some soft pull wide flange pop rivets or even Gorilla tape on the TE to secure it. It will bend to just the right shape, or close enough.
 
Try some thin Lexan, it's tough stuff, use some soft pull wide flange pop rivets or even Gorilla tape on the TE to secure it. It will bend to just the right shape, or close enough.
Thanks for the suggestion.
material needs to stretch with shock movement. Shocks are fully extended during no load (flight).
Attaching rigid material would hinder elasticity.
doug
 
My aluminum fairings on my Cub style shock struts extend long enough to allow for the needed movement, well they don't move, they are just long enough to allow movement.
 
I was fooling around with Kydex awhile back and made some “telescoping” covers for stock hydrosorbs.
seemed to work well.
Thinking some similar for TK’s
Be nice to do out of carbon fiber. End caps could attach to shock brackets and follow movement of shocks.
They would need to extend AND compress to keep up with TK shock movement.


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Before I subject myself to major sticker shock, how do these gas shocks perform in the cold? Like minus thirty cold?
 
Could you build the covers stiff enough to have the bottom end uncapped? Built that way, they would be streamlined for flight, and be open on the bottom end to where travel isn’t a factor when landing.
 
One other advantage to making them longer to allow for travel, is that much more round tube is faired. Mine appear identical to Oliver's, long, with end caps on both ends. Not sure how you would locate/stabilize them with one end cap? No disadvantage to having two.

I know on air shocks, the seals are the deal in cold weather. Some popular fatbike front forks use airshocks, and one brand in particular had an issue with cold weather performance, (I don't know what the failure mode was) so they came out with upgraded seals of some type and the problem went away, it was a simple upgrade. I have Fox airshocks plus bungees, and have no issues, down to 5 degrees anyway.
 
One other advantage to making them longer to allow for travel, is that much more round tube is faired.
It might very well be that the longer fairing would be less draggy than the shorter one. The round tube is very draggy as compared to even a larger streamlined tube.

I know this video has been posted before, but it might be worth revisiting the relative dragginess of various shapes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftq8jTQ8ANE
 
The only time the fairing needs to be long is on landing/extension so no need to be long AT ALL.... you are going slow then..........


Sent from my iPhone using SuperCub.Org
 
The only time the fairing needs to be long is on landing/extension so no need to be long AT ALL.... you are going slow
Sent from my iPhone using SuperCub.Org
TK assembly is at full extension when unloaded during flight.
During landing actually compresses, shortens.
Takes a minute to wrap your head around the function even while watching it articulate, ingenious design.
 
Folks

Larry Vetterman asked me to share a few photos and ideas for your consideration.......


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This is his second Javron Cub and he is getting close to completion.
After a long winter away I’m getting back in the groove. Fuselage is now at the airport. One wing is in the paint booth. Then the other wing will get cover and primer and paint. Then it all goes together.


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Here is a $95.00 Tempress deluxe boat seat that Clint found and is using so I figured I would try it. Very comfortable, made in the USA. I installed one in my white cub and tested it before I committed to use them in my new one.



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Bill, I have no idea how to post pictures etc on SC.org, so feel free to pass this information along, as well as the first pictures I sent.

Here is a simple set of form blocks I made to make the end ribs on the covers. They are made from 6061T6 by .035 thick. The big cover is .025 2024T3. The top rib is screwed onto the shock frame and the bottom one floats on the shaft via a 1/4 inch uhmw block. Simple to make and maintain. Larry v.


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Larry says.....I hope this helps.....


Bill
 
There are a few boat seats that are not bad weight wise while utilizing firm enough foam so one does not bottom out. I like that.
 
I like the boat seat idea! Bill can you ask Larry if he used one for the pilot seat also? How did he mount it if he did? Thanks
 
I like the boat seat idea! Bill can you ask Larry if he used one for the pilot seat also? How did he mount it if he did? Thanks

We’re , working on perfecting the mount to the seat base.

Ill post some pics when I figure out how to do it on the piper base.
Below pics are from my 172 winged contraption.
Totally different base and slider rail, but perhaps they will give you ideas.
Clint
 

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photos of the airplane and 172 wings!!
Here ya Go!
0360
early 172 wings with sportsman stol
31” ABW’s
garmin G3X avionics.
Guessing that it will be 1060 empty, under 1100 for sure.
 

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Oh yes and per the original post, I have TK1’s.
Excellent service, performance, and lightweight
 
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