Starting a stretch project

[Marc Davis]

Are you going with Super Cub struts?

Yes, I think so. I have an unused use set of sealed Tri-Pacer struts that I will sell and use the proceeds to buy a set of the aluminum struts from [FONT=arial, sans-serif]Carlsons or D&E. The other possibility is finding a set of used, un-sealed SC struts in good shape. If I did that I would have to weld in new fork nuts and buy new larger forks. The old / small forks just look too small to me even though they worked fine for 50 years.

I thought about fabricating my own struts from new streamline tube but that stuff is a kings ransome per foot. It's cheaper to get the D&E kit.

Marc[/FONT]

 

[Cub junkie]

You can get steel strut blanks from Univair if you want to go with steel. I think they are 1020 steel.

 

[HighRoad]

I would look into using AK Bushwheels extended Maule gear. It will bolt on and give you more angle of attack and less drag then cub/trimmer gear. You just need a point for the Oleos to attach. Obviously this would be experimental.
The univair conversion gear is wider than maule gear, so with the same length front tubes, the maule gear is "taller" due to the angles.

 

[Marc Davis]

I would look into using AK Bushwheels extended Maule gear. It will bolt on and give you more angle of attack and less drag then cub/trimmer gear. You just need a point for the Oleos to attach. Obviously this would be experimental.
The univair conversion gear is wider than maule gear, so with the same length front tubes, the maule gear is "taller" due to the angles.

I need to look at the Maule gear closer to understand how it differs from the Hydrosorb (sp?) that pacers use. getting the tailwheel weight, overall weight and ballance, and AOA right will take a bit of figuring.

Marc

 

[Marc Davis]

Well, 4 weeks in China turned into 7.5 weeks in China. I have officially seen enough chicken feet and pig lips on the menu to last me a life time.

I'm finally dragging my project home. I got the wings last night and will pickup the rest on Sunday. One question, some of the ribs have been used with the pop rivet style of fabric installation so they have a series of holes in the cap strips. Is there any issue with reusing these? Can I rib stitch next time?

Thanks
Marc

 

[dplunkt]

I'll second Brian's (Steve's Aircraft) desire to get acopy of that FA for moving the ailerons out and extend the flaps. Trimmer is working on that STC but its not moving very fast if at all.

Dan

 

[Marc Davis]

I have the paperwork here, I just need to dig it out of the pile. I'll try to get to it after this weekend.

Marc

 

[Steve Pierce]

Well, 4 weeks in China turned into 7.5 weeks in China. I have officially seen enough chicken feet and pig lips on the menu to last me a life time.

I'm finally dragging my project home. I got the wings last night and will pickup the rest on Sunday. One question, some of the ribs have been used with the pop rivet style of fabric installation so they have a series of holes in the cap strips. Is there any issue with reusing these? Can I rib stitch next time?

Thanks
Marc

Depends on the holes. I have seen them off to the side of the cap strip which tends to weaken the structural integrity of the rib. You can buy some rib repair material and form it over the holey cap strip.

 

[Marc Davis]

At first glance these seems well centered but I'll have to look them all over. I have some spare ribs so I'll replace the worst at least.

Marc

 

[bobnall]

Marc, I have some rib repair material. They are yours if you need them.

 

[Marc Davis]

Thanks Bob. Lets see how it goes.

 

[MainlandCub]

Pacer

Sounds like a great airplane the way it is. Curious what you will do to the wings as it sounds like they are as long as you want with stock struts and spars. What will stretching the fuselage accomplish? I know it will add a lot of weight and maybe make it a little easier directional control on the ground.

I tend to agree with Steve. Check out how well the Sullivan winged Pacer does against the Super Cubs in this clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAtut3jw7OQ
The Pacer has an O-360, but so does the Super Cub registration BTX. Seem to do about as well as each other.

Andrew.

 

[Marc Davis]

Andrew

I have thought hard about just building a "super pacer". It would probably be the fastest path to completion, not so much head scratching. It's a complicated set of pro's and con's. In the end I believe the lower wing loading of a super cub wing will better accomplish my goals. And the lower interaction level with the FAA better suites my personality. A small example is the bottom of the right wing near the wing root. In a Tri-Pacer there are several inspection plates and a tank sump here. It is also an area that drums a lot because of prop wash. Almost every Tri-Pacer I've seen looks like hell here, looses inspection cover often, and soon requires repair of the fabric. It's clear that some kind of backing is needed here to protect the fabric but you can'd install it on a certified Tri-Pacer in any legal way that I know of. No one has gone through the pain of creating an STC. Even if there were an STC, the owner would have to charge you hundreds of dollars for it to try to recoup the large investment he made pushing paperwork through the FAA. The FAA won't let you do it with a 337 any more. On an experimental you just do it and move on.

Marc

 

[Marc Davis]

Here are a few shots of bring my project home. Now I just need to get it all organized and put away. It came with lots of extra part (like a spare fuselage and 4 nose bowls).
My wife is soooo happy I'm consuming the garage :evil: but I need to get it moved to the shop ASAP.

Marc

 

[docstory]

That's enough to keep you busy for a long time. ;-)