Stickman Aerosports
MEMBER
I need to get my experimental PA-18-95 (O-200) closer to home to help promote progress on the project. I am considering removing the wings to allow it to fit in my garage. I am highly mechanically inclined and know my way around a toolbox and can wrench with the best of them. I however am not an expert in de-winging and curious if this is a good idea, bad idea and why etc.
Current state of plane:
In order to facilitate the wing removal, since controls are out, below is what I believe I need to do to remove the wings (but I may be missing things or have them sequenced wrong):
Can I get some input on the following:
My bird is the sad one facing the back wall...It's not even allowed to look outside...
Current state of plane:
- Bought plane 1/2022, and flew it home...last time and only time I flew it
- Immediately started modifications/improvements once home
- Floor boards are out, stick assembly is out, pedals are out, seat is out, interior tin is out on walls, no headliner or similar installed
In order to facilitate the wing removal, since controls are out, below is what I believe I need to do to remove the wings (but I may be missing things or have them sequenced wrong):
- Disconnect aileron control cable links at top of windscreen and at floor board where it connected to the stick assembly
- Disconnect fuel lines at wing root to fuselage intersection
- Disconnect nav lights at wing root to fuselage intersection
- Disconnect pitot tube at wing root to fuselage intersection
- Remove front and rear spar bolts on each wing
- Remove strut bolts from outer wing and fuselage
- TELL ME WHAT I MISSED ON THIS LIST
Can I get some input on the following:
- Is there a specific sequence I should follow when it comes to removing spar and strut bolts?
- Do I need to measure anything specific before wing removal for reassembly considerations?
- As for the struts and clevis at the fuselage, I assume I should try not to move the clevis from its current setting to retain current flight/rigging characteristics?
- How many able bodied people minimum should I have onsite for safely de-winging?
- How long (considering current state of bird listed above) should this de-wing process take?
- If the strut clevis positions remain unchanged, will it be just bolt everything back on and test fly?
- Tips for efficient removal/install, special stands/jacks? (other than a wing cradle once they are off).
- TELL ME WHY I SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERING DE-WINGING THE BIRD
My bird is the sad one facing the back wall...It's not even allowed to look outside...