Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

What thickness and type of plywood is everybody using to mount their landing gear to in a glass fuse? I'm getting ready to start on my Xigris which comes with a 1/8" lite-ply plate to be glued into the fuse. Even with vertical supports, my instincts tell me this is too flimsy for flying off a grass field. I'm guessing either 1/8" or 3/16" 5-ply with vertical supports. Suggestions?

Thanks,
Verne Koester

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

I agree with you Verne.

I use 1/8" 5 ply with 5.7 oz CF laminated to both sides. The vertical supports I use are made with the 1/8" Honeycomb plate stuff.

Joe Dunnaway

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

Verne,

Looking at it last night, it appears the landing gear block in my wind is 1/8" ply laminated with CF. The supports are made out of the same,

Arch

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

Arch,
Is the plywood 5-ply or lite-ply?

Thanks,
Verne

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

Verne

0.080" CF plate (CST) is bullet proof and lite (0.060" is enough if "lamingated" to the fuse).

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

Thanks Earl, I hadn't even considered that option. Do you still run the typical u-shaped supports from the plate up the side of the fuse?

Verne

RE: Landing Gear Mounting Plate
 

Verne

No U shaped supports, but sometimes a couple of L shaped (0.030" CF) supports - long on the vertical to distribute the landing forces over a larger area. If the plate isn't glued to the fuse floor, I usually add an 1/8" sq. CF stiffener to the plate. The goal is to have a plate that doesn't flex, as this flex is transfered to the composite wall of the fuse resulting in excess stress. A good test is to grab the LG and give it a good flexing while watching the plate, there should be no "give" in the middle as is often the case with wide fuselages.