Guys something a little off subject, but I saw Bryce watson last week at work and he showed me some video.....And must warn everyone.....DO NOT LET SEAN DRIVE YOUR NEW VETTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sean knows what Im talking about..

Pete

Pete, Pete, Pete. Thanks for reminding me of the great time I had down there! I was told the Z06 would do 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. I don't believe it, It couldn't have been a hair under 3.7

Bryce is a one in a million guy. I wish knew a few more guys like him. Pete forgive me in advance as I met a lot of a people for the first time down there, did I meet you? What were you flying?

Those videos Bryce showed you are highly classified documents as I was playing hooky from my Day Job. Bryce talked me into it.

That afternoon we went out to y'alls local field and I flew a Heli in forward flight for the first time on a trainer cable, it was simply awesome.

I can't wait to get back down that way for Florida Jets or sooner. I'm gonna stay at Johnny's new place next time. I'm such a lush......

Pete, I just spoke to Todd, squared away with who you are. Catch up with you in '04 and here. Very funny..............

Sean,

Your secret is safe with me...See you at FJ....

Pete

Hi Todd,

I finally got the gear and the main installation went well ( Sean , I don't think main gear doors are going to work ) but if I install the nose gear the stock way, the nose is pointed at the moon ! I see that your mounting plate is actually lowered. Do you have a different length strut than me ? My nosegear is 8.5" from the top of the mounting plate to the bottom of the wheel.

Marc

Good eye Marc,

You are quite correct, the nose gear strut is too long and I have provided Don with the correct length of 4 7/8" (from top of strut to axle center). Here's the deal with mine..... First flight I had a bit tooo much flap deployed and bounced the plane twice on landing (high nose incidence didn't help). Don had a slightly shorter strut with him for the fixed gear setup so I swapped the strut with the shorter one. Second flight the landing was perfect but I must have loosened the nose gear mounting plate and on landing the nose gear mount broke loose. I glued it back in place so I could continue to fly it at Lake Whales. When I got home, I replaced the top plate by making my own, I also placed a 1/4" spacer between the gear and the front former and used the two bottom firewall mount holes to secure the gear as well since this is the direction of load applied to the gear. You can shorten the nose gear strut by cutting it to the right length and inserting a wheel collar into the top of the strut, silver solder the collar to the strut. You will also need to shorten the spring (should anyway, it's too stiff). Or....Your other option is to have Don swap the strut out for the fixed gear one which is shorter but still a tad too long.
Nose gear door is not hard on the Tango but mains would be a pita....
Todd

Todd,

Thanks for the reply . I had recognized the nose high attitude at Superman and was told that the gear I would receive would be shorter. Well , 2 months later I finally got the gear and it's too long. I disassembled the strut and it's as short as it can go . There's absolutely no room for adjustment. My options are not worry about it ( looks too goofy !) , make my own shorter strut or modify the nose gear bulkhead and mount the gear about an inch gear higher . I think I'll be doing the last choice. I can't think of any good reason why that won't work. Before I get to modifying can anyone think of anything I've missed ?

Marc

Ya!! You actually have to take the top of the strut to the band saw or disc cutoff dremel and take it off!! However, that was what we did on mains, not nosegear with the steering assemble welded on............I'm not looking at it but will be in a couple of hours. Email me your phone number and I'll conf call Todd, you and I and we'll come up with something.....

Send it to [email protected]

I totally understand what Todd was suggesting but it's not possible with my strut. The oleo movement is .75" and the insertion is only . 75" to begin with. The next two pics should explain it. I need to shorten the system by at least an inch to get it where I want it. The bottom blue line is the level of the gear mount in the aircraft. The top blue line is a position that I'm willing to accept but the attitude will still not be level.

Marc

One more picture

Mark,
Your right, not as much room to alter the strut as I thought. You could raise the gear higher but I think I would just call don and get the shorter strut. With the fixed gear strut it only sits about 2-3 deg nose high, would prefer 0 deg but it lands fine at this incedence....
Feel free to call me if you have any questions!
Regards,
Todd
386-852-4793

How necessary/vital is the speed brake on the Tango? Can it be skipped?

Robert

Yes, the speed brake can be skipped but for the minimal amount of work it is to install..... I suggest you do. The flaps create enough drag to slow the airplane down but can also make the tango difficult to land. I have been using speed brake only to land the tango, the flaps tend to give too much lift making it difficult to actually plant the plane (especially with the NG strut too long). If your using a smaller engine (12lbs) you may find you dont even need the SB to land but, I believe on dead calm days you'll wish you had it.
Todd

Todd, is there any particular reason you're not just shortening the nose strut you have?

Just havent had a chance to shorten it yet

Have a good holiday bud?
Todd

Great Holiday! My buddy and I shot primer on a yellow F-15 and we've been sanding for the low spots. Turns out my building partner has a best friend that paints Mercedes for a living. Been doing it about 11 years. Is certified to the max. He came to my house couple of days ago and taught not only technique, but changed my thinking process on what I've "heard", what I've "seen" and so forth. I'd say the most interesting thing I learned was that the normal red or green putty I and others have been using is available in a catalyzed version. He gave us about two years worth and this stuff is really good. Also gave us all the catalyzed primer we could use on the F-15. Neat guy to know.

Anyway, Best Christmas gift was by far a Sonicaire tooth brush, or maybe this 7" portable dvd player........Then again, there's always my girlfriend in that Red Teddie.......but that's another thread.........

Let me know how much you take off that strut when you do, and I'll follow suit.

Trust all is well with you, tell Lou I said Happy New Year, but say it with a New York Accent

Hi Guys,

Hope you all had a good Christmas. I just got back from Santiago , Chile. Had to work but it certainly could have been worse ! Here's what I ended up doing with my nose gear. I didn't see any way to shorten my strut so I installed a 1/4" ply plate that was glued to the back of the original former. This plate just allows the gear to be firewall mounted higher up. The airplane has the correct ground attitude now. Notice that in this picture , I also have servo mounts glued to the back of the aft former. The accesory plate is held on with the servo mounting screws. A little double duty !

Marc

Some more pics.

I just might build a new one I lost the frist one.

Looks good Marc, nice job.
Should be alot better with that AOA

Yes, thanks! All is good here. I'll tell Lou Happy Nue Yeer for ya
Regards,
Todd

Welcome back Marc!! Nice nosewheel installation....

Did you check into RCC and claim your prize??

Hi Wayne ,

Yes , quite a nice surprise to come home to !

Marc

Guys,

Just wondering if any of you have had a lot of slop in your nose wheel strut ? I couldn't live with the amount I had so I machined a new part for the pin to pass through . Much more precise now.

Marc

Hi thanks. Will install.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert