handglider

My Feedback: (23)

I have broken one of my 1/8" thick alum. landing gear legs on my pattern plane. It sure seems like the 1/8 alum I can buy at Home Depot or Lowes.

my question is - is there special alum that would be better than the stuff I can buy locally or will this stuff be fine for my 11 pound pattern plane ??

thanks in advance...

Joe Fisher

My Feedback: (4)

I would sugest you use 2024-T3 the stuff at the box store is probibly 5052 I would make the radous of the bends at least 3/4".
See
http://www.airpartsinc.com/catalog2005_gif.htm

scalebldr

My Feedback: (7)

i would suspect the home depot type of aluminum would be too soft.I thought aluminum for gear was somewhat tempered to give it a bit of spring to it.

Antique

My Feedback: (4)

I've had good luck using 6061 T3.

bhole74

I use the 1/8" x 1-1/2" aluminum from Lowes on my 14 lb 3D plane without any problems.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

As you can see, not all aluminum is created equal.

There are many different alloys (6061, 2024, 5052 etc.) and different Tempers (T-3, T-6).

So your choice comes down to this.

1 - Try the stuff. If it works great, you're good to go. If it doesn't, see #2

2- Buy the correct replacement part.

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

thanks everyone for the great replies.

this is what I love about our hobby/sport! if only our goverment worked liked this, there would be no cancer, hunger, homeless, etc, etc, I guess I am dreaming..... anyhow....

I've made a set of gear out of the 5024 lowes alum stock, it works great and cost less than 5 bucks for two new legs, compare that to $35.00 for the factory replacement or $50.0 for CF...... I'll go the cheap route and when they break I'll make another cheap set.....

thanks again,

Dean

britbrat

65S T6

Campy

My Feedback: (1)

Try a sheet metal shop. Frequently they have "cut offs" that they will give you. If you can get some 6061 or 6062 go that way (T6 hardness ). You heat it to bend it and it will reharden itself to a T4 hardness in about 5 - 7 days.

BillS

Dean if the gear turns out to be too soft or very springy it is easy to fix by laminating a thinner aluminum to the gear. You are correct the government should work with this type of cooperation.

Here is how I reinforced a landing gear.

Bill

BillS

Sorry the pictures did not show up. Another attempt.

Bill

handglider

My Feedback: (23)

thanks everyone!!!!

this sport and this website ROCKS!

2slow2matter

My Feedback: (1)

Bills,
How did you stick the support aluminum to the gear?

BillS

I used two 2-56 button head screws with nuts on the bottom, which can be seen in the pictures. It takes very little to stiffen the gear up. No glue. Originally I thought more screws would be needed but flight tests proved otherwise.

Bill

2slow2matter

My Feedback: (1)

now I see. Nice, I'll have to try that trick this week. I have an arf whose landing gear is about as stiff as yarn. I've tried wires, but they keep stretching. This may be the cure I've been searching for. thanks!