REFLECTOR:Landing Lights and Door Struts
Ronnie Brown
reflector@tvbf.org
Sat, 22 Nov 2003 08:12:44 -0500
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C3B0D0.6805C2C0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Re: REFLECTOR:Al is quiteI found my replacement struts at =
www.mcmaster.com . Enter "page 1053" in the search box, and go to the =
bottom of the page. These struts are threaded on the ends, go to page =
1055 to get the attaching sockets. My sockets are 10 mm or 3/8" to fit =
the balls which came with my kit.
I never used the factory struts. I had relocated my attach points to =
the new locations and found a strut at Advance Auto that worked OK but =
like you say, you have to be ready for the door to fall down when =
taxiing. I measured my original struts and they were 37 pounds, so I =
ordered the 50 pound struts from McMaster and they are perfect. I used =
the 9416K18 strut, but yours may be different depending on where your =
attach points are. =20
I haven't had a chance to taxi or fly at night with my new lights yet so =
I don't know how they are. I did get some good comments from my FBO =
while I was landing. He said my lights were as bright as any he had =
seen while I was on final. They are just 2.5" x 5" 55 watt halogen =
lights that I found at Autozone. When mounted vertically on the main =
gear struts they tend to have an up/down pattern - not wide - so this =
could be a problem while taxiing, but I think for the approach they will =
give a good pattern for the changing nose attitude while on final. Its =
got to be as good as our Cessna 172 with its single nose mounted light.
By the way, Chuck, your alternating canard mounted lights were very =
visible when I saw you landing last month. I am going to try to find =
the alternating head light flasher that the volunteer firemen use. =20
Ronnie
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Chuck Jensen=20
To: 'reflector@tvbf.org'=20
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2003 8:09 AM
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Al is quite
Ronnie,=20
You're right. On Thurs, I flew 300nm to Memphis and 300nm back to TYS =
and did not see a single cloud anywhere. Once, I felt a tiny bit of =
turbulence and thought "ugh, a perfect day ruined" but I looked over and =
it was just the passenger adjusting his hemarroid cushion. =20
Hey, where'd you get the struts. Mine are just a tad weak and would =
let the door slump down if the plane jostles a little during taxi. But =
with the advent of cold weather (and, I assume, lower pressure in the =
strut), the door will just flat drop. I'd been thinking about looking =
around for new struts (better than having to wear a hard hat), but since =
you've already done the research, how about sharing? By the way, =
what's the psi of the standard Velo door struts?
How effective are the lights on the strut during taxi? Are they so =
low that most of the light is parallel to the ground which reduces =
runway/taxiway illuminating or are you able to aim it (them) to achieve =
that benefit. I have the landing light in the nose with a little =
downward tilt. It's okay for 30' in front of the plane but 50' in =
front, I need to put on my night vision goggles. So, is it effective?
Chuck Jensen=20
-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On =
Behalf Of Ronnie Brown
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 6:59 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:Al is quite
You got that right!!!
Today was a FABULOUS day in the Carolinas, no clouds, > 50 mile =
visibility, little wind, just a perfect day to fly a FABULOUS airplane - =
my Velocity 173 Elite RG. =20
I got some new gas springs that are 50 lb and hold the door up while =
taxiing, I got my landing lights installed=20
(between the gear leg and door), and everything is just working SO =
good!!!!! What a GREAT airplane and a GREAT day to fly.
So if you are sanding, sand faster and get that bird flying - you're =
gonna love it!!!!
Ronnie Brown
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Jack Sheehan=20
To: reflector@tvbf.org=20
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2003 9:48 AM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR:Al is quite
No the weather is nice so we are out flying
N55XL
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C3B0D0.6805C2C0
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: REFLECTOR:Al is quite</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<STYLE type=3Dtext/css>BLOCKQUOTE {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
DL {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
UL {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
OL {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
LI {
MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px
}
</STYLE>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I found my replacement struts at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.mcmaster.com">www.mcmaster.com</A> . Enter =
"page 1053" in=20
the search box, and go to the bottom of the page. These struts are =
threaded on the ends, go to page 1055 to get the attaching =
sockets. My=20
sockets are 10 mm or 3/8" to fit the balls which came with my=20
kit.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I never used the factory struts. I had =
relocated my=20
attach points to the new locations and found a strut at Advance Auto =
that worked=20
OK but like you say, you have to be ready for the door to fall down =
when=20
taxiing. I measured my original struts and they were 37 =
pounds, so I=20
ordered the 50 pound struts from McMaster and they are perfect. I =
used the=20
9416K18 strut, but yours may be different depending on where your attach =
points=20
are. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I haven't had a chance to taxi or fly at night with =
my new=20
lights yet so I don't know how they are. I did get some good =
comments from=20
my FBO while I was landing. He said my lights were as bright as =
any he had=20
seen while I was on final. They are just 2.5" x 5" 55 watt =
halogen=20
lights that I found at Autozone. When mounted vertically on the =
main gear=20
struts they tend to have an up/down pattern - not wide - so this could =
be a=20
problem while taxiing, but I think for the approach they will give a =
good=20
pattern for the changing nose attitude while on final. Its got to =
be as=20
good as our Cessna 172 with its single nose mounted light.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>By the way, Chuck, your alternating canard mounted =
lights were=20
very visible when I saw you landing last month. I am going to try =
to find=20
the alternating head light flasher that the volunteer firemen use. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Ronnie</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dcjensen@dts9000.com =
href=3D"mailto:cjensen@dts9000.com">Chuck=20
Jensen</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dreflector@tvbf.org=20
href=3D"mailto:'reflector@tvbf.org'">'reflector@tvbf.org'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 22, =
2003 8:09=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: REFLECTOR:Al is =
quite</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT size=3D2>Ronnie, </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3D2>You<SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003>'</SPAN>r<SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003>e</SPAN> right. On Thurs, I flew 300nm to =
Memphis and=20
300nm back to TYS and did not see a single cloud =
<EM>anywhere</EM>. <SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003> Once, I felt a tiny bit of turbulence =
and=20
thought "ugh, a perfect day ruined" but I looked over =
and it=20
was just the passenger adjusting his hemarroid cushion. =
</SPAN><SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><EM><SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003></SPAN></EM><FONT =
size=3D2>Hey, where'd=20
you get the struts. Mine <SPAN =
class=3D796411112-22112003>are</SPAN> just a=20
tad weak and w<SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003>ould</SPAN> let<SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003> the</SPAN> door slump down if the =
plane=20
jostle<SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003>s</SPAN> a little during =
taxi.<SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003> </SPAN> But with the advent of cold =
weather=20
(and, I assume, lower pressure in the strut), the door will just flat=20
drop. <SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003> I'd been thinking about =
looking=20
around for new struts (better than having to wear a hard hat), =
but since=20
you've already done the research, how about sharing? By =
the way,=20
what's the psi of the standard Velo door struts?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3D2><SPAN class=3D796411112-22112003>How effective are =
the lights on=20
the strut during taxi? Are they so low that most of the light is =
parallel to the ground which reduces runway/taxiway illuminating or =
are you=20
able to aim it (them) to achieve that benefit. I have the =
landing=20
light in the nose with a little downward tilt. It's okay =
for 30' in=20
front of the plane but 50' in front, I need to put on my night vision=20
goggles. So, is it effective?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial>Ch</FONT>uck<FONT face=3DArial> =
Jensen<SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT size=3D2><FONT face=3DArial><SPAN=20
class=3D796411112-22112003> </SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
reflector-admin@tvbf.org=20
[mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Ronnie=20
Brown<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 21, 2003 6:59 PM<BR><B>To:</B>=20
reflector@tvbf.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: REFLECTOR:Al is=20
quite<BR><BR></P></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>You got that right!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Today was a FABULOUS day in the Carolinas, no =
clouds, >=20
50 mile visibility, little wind, just a perfect day to fly a =
FABULOUS=20
airplane - my Velocity 173 Elite RG. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>I got some new gas springs that are 50 lb and =
hold the=20
door up while taxiing, I got my landing lights installed =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>(between the gear leg and door), and everything =
is just=20
working SO good!!!!! What a GREAT airplane and a GREAT day to=20
fly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>So if you are sanding, sand faster and get that =
bird=20
flying - you're gonna love it!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Ronnie Brown</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- =
</DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dj.f.sheehan@issmail.larc.nasa.gov=20
href=3D"mailto:j.f.sheehan@issmail.larc.nasa.gov">Jack Sheehan</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dreflector@tvbf.org=20
href=3D"mailto:reflector@tvbf.org">reflector@tvbf.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 21, =
2003 9:48=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: REFLECTOR:Al =
is=20
quite</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D-1>No the weather is nice so we are out=20
flying</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT=20
size=3D-1>N55XL</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY=
></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C3B0D0.6805C2C0--