All Things Aviation Related

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

I know there are kits available and that may be the answer...
The question is, -
What might be the best material options to polish up a Helicopter bubble?
I am thinking of a real buffer pad with a real buffer which I am way too familiar with, and some 3 M polish compound.
What do you guys polish a canopy with?

I have polished a lot of acrylic but not polycarbonate. You can search and if there are not a bunch of cautions regarding poly then the usual polishing compounds used with a relatively slow buffer will produce fantastic results. The key is to not get the surface too hot that it starts to move and distort.

I find that only a dedicated polisher does that, not a variable speed angle grinder.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by E38Driver

I have a silly question, why are all of the aircraft sitting with the nose wheel tucked in when they are tied down? Doesn't that scratch the paint?

Thanks for any answers,

Dave

Another issue is the CG. With the engine in the back, you have to hold pressure on the canard to prevent it from sitting on its arse and damaging the prop when the nose gear is extended. Some folks have extended the nose to give it a racier look and then added an electric nose gear worm drive which adds weight to the nose. Some of those birds can extend the nose gear a little bit before getting close to the tipping point.

I have our VariEZ’s nose gear fully extended in our hangar. I also have a bunch of scuba diving weight bags in the nose and no wings attached, so I am safe from it tipping back. With that said, I also have precautions in place, just in case and to be extra safe.

This is my buddy’s at a local fly-in. People are still fascinated at the unusual design even though it’s been around for decades. Always makes it a good time and good conversation with curious folks. I never seem to get tired of it, and I think it’s fun.


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by E38Driver

I have a silly question, why are all of the aircraft sitting with the nose wheel tucked in when they are tied down? Doesn't that scratch the paint?

Thanks for any answers,

Dave

Here are some pics to show what Helix8 was referring to.



Top pic shows the retractable nose gear and third pic shows the pad the nose sits on. Hard to see because it blends.


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[oldE]

I believe E38's question was to the purpose of retracting the nose gear in the first place.
My guess would be to degrade aerodynamic lift if the wind should blow.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Best
Les

[E38Driver]

Thanks for the info. I love this place. Ask a question a get an answer. Totally awesome.

Dave

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by oldE

I believe E38's question was to the purpose of retracting the nose gear in the first place.
My guess would be to degrade aerodynamic lift if the wind should blow.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Best
Les

Hi Les
That is how I interpreted the question as well. I was just showing a pic of what the design looked like from below since it kinda difficult to see while one is parked.
The VariEZ and LongEZ were designed to be parked on the nose. With the engine in the back/pusher configuration, they will tip back and sit on their arse if the nose wheel is extended and left. This is due to the CG limits of the design. In the beginning, the VariEZ was designed to be a hand start to keep it simple. Basic avionics, no starter, simple and lite. This would also keep the VariEZ from going anywhere as long as the throttle was set correctly. Open too much, and the possibility of it driving off was increased. Once the engine is running, the pilot picks up the nose, lowers the nose wheel and climbs aboard.
The LongEZ’s design is the same, however advancements in equipment has allowed folks to install an electric nose wheel that allows the nose to be picked up off the ground as well as lowered with pilot and passenger aboard. Mechanically speaking, that adds a bit of stress to the attach points to the nose wheel as well as adds a bit of weight as well.

FUN FACT:
On a side note, the pics I posted of the suspended VariEZ, a bit modified by a redesigned Naca intake scoop rather than the plans P51 intake and LongEZ style lower winglets, use to belong to a Pelican’s dad who was an instructor at the Sacramento City College’s Aviation Program. He donated it to the college and they suspended it from the ceiling of the hangar classroom.

[oldE]

Hey Bugs! I appreciate your response. I noticed in one set of images there were small wing fences near the trailing edges of one of the EZs. Would those be to address a yaw situation? I didn't note them on other airframes in the series of images.
Thanks
Les

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by oldE

Hey Bugs! I appreciate your response. I noticed in one set of images there were small wing fences near the trailing edges of one of the EZs. Would those be to address a yaw situation? I didn't note them on other airframes in the series of images.
Thanks
Les

No problemo there Les,

Trailing edge fences help with slow speed performance as do leading edge vortalons and in our case on our VariEZ, leading edge wing cuffs.

The trailing edge fences keep the air flow moving more over the ailerons which improves the effectiveness at slow speeds such as landing. These are modifications and some have done, and some not. TE fences is a must for us. Due to our wing design, I need all the added aileron authority I can muster since responsiveness can get mushy if your not on top of the numbers when landing. Starting at about the point where the engine cowling begins, the angle of the airflow over the wings begins to increase as the speed drops, essentially reducing the effectiveness of control input. The TE fences redirect the airflow to keep it inline and keeping authority.

Hope this makes sense.




Leading edge wing cuffs

If you want to see the starting procedures as designed by Burt Rutan, check out this video. Yes, it’s an hour long and shows methods of construction, however you can watch the first 2.5 minute to get the idea.

Cheers
Bugs

https://youtu.be/qtSndkKXP3c

[Baz]

Love vintage aircraft!

[glewis80SC]

Planes of Fame Museum on Fathers Day.

[Racerbvd]

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by glewis80SC

Planes of Fame Museum on Fathers Day.

That’s awesome!!! Glad you had a chance to visit, that place rocks!!

Did you get a chance to see Yamamoto’s Betty Bomber he was shot down in?




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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Baz

Love vintage aircraft!

Link doesn’t work in my end . Is it me or is anyone else having this issue?

Ok….. link worked in my reply was able to watch it.

Cool Baz, thanks for sharing. Kinda had the same feeling in 2003 when I took possession of the 1967 Cessna 150G. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it was for me.

Tail wheels are an awesome plane to learn in. I did my primary in Citabrias at the Hemet-Ryan Aerobatic flight center. I have always felt that learning in a tail wheel helps make you a better stick and rudder pilot.

[bugstrider]

https://youtu.be/qo4-87CF58k


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[bugstrider]

Made some rudimentary heat shields after work today. Test fit tomorrow….




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[rsrguy]

Haha... at least one bolt will hold.... for a little while!

[rsrguy]

Aviation stained glass

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by rsrguy

Haha... at least one bolt will hold.... for a little while!

Hahahahahaha, duck tape to the rescue!!!!!

A better test fit.
My OCD is kicking into high gear with new hardware since everything has been in play since 1982.

Nuts, bolts and washers as I progress through the updates.

[oldE]

Bugs, Thanks for the explanation on the effect of the wing fences. I overlooked the swept wing factor and you straightened my thinking out. Now I'm going to have to read up on wing cuffs. I appreciate the education. The more I learn helps me realize how little I know.

Best
Les

[daepp]

Originally Posted by FA-18C

Super Stallion - a badass helo indeed. There are some great videos of E's doing loops that defy understanding. I only have about 10 hours of flight time in helos but always enjoyed being in front instead of in the rear with fluids dripping on me...

My secretary back in the late 80's - her husband was a crew chief on a Super Stallion out of El Toro. He stopped in one day to have lunch with his wife but was covered in oil. When I asked what happened he said a hydraulic line bad blown while in flight and that he had fixed it - again - while in flight. I have no idea how that's possible but that's what he told me...