Wing tip bow
- Thread starter kodiakcub
- Start date
Grant
FRIEND
At Work.....
I would not do it...
bob turner
Registered User
Me neither. First, the ash bow is shaped. Second, ash bends on impact; aluminum stays bent. Third, ash absorbs shock better when you hit that fencepost or the hangar door. Fourth, it is probably lighter.
I no longer drill holes for the spar attach fitting screws. I glue the bow, then wrap it with fabric around the fittings. Seems to stay there, and they don't break at the spars.
I no longer drill holes for the spar attach fitting screws. I glue the bow, then wrap it with fabric around the fittings. Seems to stay there, and they don't break at the spars.
Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
Graham, TX
I have had no issue with broken tip bows at the spar but I don't use nitrate/butyrate dope that continues shrinking over the life of the fabric, pulling the tip bow in my flate spots between each attach point. I have a simple plywood fixture to shape the bow in, good epoxy varnish and install just like Piper did however the PA11 probably only had braces between the front and rear spars. Later model Pipers used 4, 2 to the top spar cap and 2 to the bottom spar caps. Keeps the tip bow from twisting up over the years. Got into that on J3 and PA16 wings I have rebuild.
Attachments
bob turner
Registered User
Steve is right, of course, unless you use nitrate/butyrate. But if you hit something the tip bow will crack at the holes.
I use Pliobond, and I wrap 102 fabric, attached with Super Seam, and heat shrunk. And yeah, once in a while I hit the hangar door - less lately with decent tow bars, but still . . .
I use Pliobond, and I wrap 102 fabric, attached with Super Seam, and heat shrunk. And yeah, once in a while I hit the hangar door - less lately with decent tow bars, but still . . .
Do you treat the bow in some way ( steam or soak in hot water) before you put it in your plywood fixture?
bob turner
Registered User
All I have purchased were pre-curved.
Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
Graham, TX
The tips are preformed when made but get straightened out for shipment. I bought a gross from the original makers and paid to have them motor freighted. They came in a fixture that holds them in the proper shape. When I was buying them from Univair I would soak them in a kiddie pool and put them in a fixture I made to put the shape back into them.
Steve Pierce
BENEFACTOR
