Does anyone make a prefab or fabric kit envelope that would make it super easy to cover a 3" extended gear leg by any chance? Like just slide it on and tighten it up and done? Or maybe I'm just wishful thinking............
That is a very easy piece to cover. Glue a piece on the backside first. Put a piece of fabric on the front side that is long enough to reach around and glue in the rear where it won’t be seen on the backside of the tubes. It is literally a 20 minute job to try it and if you don’t like it, cut it off and do it again good place to start learning how to do those small pieces, I am assuming that you are not somebody with fabric covering experience, but if you are then you don’t need this you are just trying to find something simpler. I understand that. But
Kind of a shame to cover up that titanium gear! Get good at covering it because when the paint cracks out you’ll have to do it again
….on a side note, if the gear is left uncovered it’s easier to inspect for cracks.
I think I am loosing some climb rate because of it not being covered? Old std gear was covered. Also can I cover it with it still "on" and not take it "off"? I spose if I put on 35s, a week from some Friday, I'd loose more "rate of climb"? Is there anything in life that is win win all the way? Probably not.
You are absolutely losing some climb, plus range due to a higher fuel burn for the same cruise. Gear covering is a great place to use up fabric scraps left over from a covering job. This subject, covering and fairing the landing gear, was all figured out back in the '20's, if not the teens, when they didn't have excess fuel and HP to throw away, and nothing has changed for why it's beneficial, aerodynamically speaking.
Do you know why you can't get a certified X Cub with legacy gear, only spring gear? It won't pass the noise test because the climb rate is less and it is lower and louder over the microphone.