Gents,

Some construction pictures of the Orion.

Background: The Orion is designed for belly landings, only when the surface is good enough I use the wheels.

The sheeting of the wing in front of the wheel main legs is 3 mm balsa plywood (1/8 inch) .
The sheeting of front part of the wing centre section is birch plywood 3 mm.
The LE of the wing is also covered with birch plywood, 1mm
The wheel legs and covering will be positioned behind the balsa plywood wing sheeting when retracted. So the balsa plywood will protect the legs for damage during belly landings.

Second picture you see the engine protection, the pine headrest is to protect the engine mounting. There is a gab of about 0,5 mm between the headrest and the valve cover. So the engine only makes contact with the headrest during belly landings.
The high positioned air intakes for the engine cooling is also used for the carburetor combustion air. This high position and over pressure in the plenum chamber will keep out dust and sand from the engine air intake during belly landings (I hope).

So, did we see the Father of the Oldest Taurus on Earth, Orion, with three wheels in 1961, I often use no wheels !!
It is whatever you want to make also your plane a winner.


More to come,
Cees