Main gear width
04-07-2011, 03:39 PM
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Main gear width
Is there a rule of thumb for the width stance for the main gear? I am scratch building a GB Sea Hawk and am makingthis one atail dragger instead of floats for now. The wingspan is 48".
Thanks,
Thanks,
04-07-2011, 04:21 PM
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RE: Main gear width
The TLAR formula usually works for me. (That Looks About Right - 
) As long as the prop clears the earth then the overall size should work just fine.
My 2c
Bliksem
) As long as the prop clears the earth then the overall size should work just fine.My 2c
Bliksem
04-07-2011, 06:27 PM
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RE: Main gear width
as fredsedno stated, 25% is what i learned as well.
one thing to keep in mind, as they get wider, there is more chance for ground looping, espescially on grass, because the width from wheel to wheel will act as a lever against forward inertia and try to stop the plane when a wheel on one side suddenly hits a bump or rolls into an abrupt depression . wider may look better, but cheating on the narrow side will roll out better/straighter. and if you're on grass keep the wheels big...3 inches on a 40-50 size plane ain't too big.
one thing to keep in mind, as they get wider, there is more chance for ground looping, espescially on grass, because the width from wheel to wheel will act as a lever against forward inertia and try to stop the plane when a wheel on one side suddenly hits a bump or rolls into an abrupt depression . wider may look better, but cheating on the narrow side will roll out better/straighter. and if you're on grass keep the wheels big...3 inches on a 40-50 size plane ain't too big.
04-08-2011, 06:42 AM
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RE: Main gear width
The Gee Bee Seahawk is a kit by Don Foster from Longmeadow, MA. The kits used to be available thru tower years ago. He had other kits as well. I am not sure what happened to him or his kits, but they don't seem to be around any longer and there doesn't seem to be any info on the web, just an occasional reference in some of the forums.
The red one is the original kit I built probably 10 years ago maybe more. I peeledthe covering off on part of the wing to get a peek inside to see how I handled the leading edge etc.. The one in balsa is a scratch built in progress based on the original plans and copying the red one.
The red one is the original kit I built probably 10 years ago maybe more. I peeledthe covering off on part of the wing to get a peek inside to see how I handled the leading edge etc.. The one in balsa is a scratch built in progress based on the original plans and copying the red one.
04-08-2011, 09:00 AM
#8
RE: Main gear width
