REFLECTOR: Canard Bulkhead and Gear Pockets

[Joe]

Tom & Mo,
Sounds like you are using apples to measure oranges, by this I mean lateral alignment and elevation are 2 different things.  The AC has 3 axis.  Longitudinal, lateral, and vertical.  Longitudinal is from nose to tail and is the axis the AC rolls about.  The lateral axis is 90 degrees from the longitudinal in the horizontal plane, the AC pitches around this axis.  Last, the vertical axis is plumb to gravity, the AC yaws around this axis.  On the other hand elevation is the distance above or below some horizontal reference datum (or a change in position along the vertical axis.)  

My interpretation of the referenced instructions, would be that the top of canard bulkhead and the top of the gear pockets should be level to each other from their respective port and starboard sides.  Look at the end result, when the wings are on and the canard is in place - you want them the wings and canard to be in alignment or level with each other. (You do not want the canard banked one way and the wings banked the other while in straight and level flight.) Since the spar rests on the gear pockets and the canard rests on the canard bulkhead, you want ultimately want these supports to be in alignment.  

Double checking with the factory is always a good choice if you are not absolutely certain.

Joe
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom & Mo Falls 
  To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders List 
  Sent: Friday, November 19, 2004 5:16 PM
  Subject: REFLECTOR: Canard Bulkhead and Gear Pockets


  I bought a Standard RG from a previous builder (1995-1996) vintage and also bought the new gear bulkhead and pre-made gear pockets (just received them).  The following is a direct quote from the manual:

  "Install the canard bulkhead at the 41" mark make sure it is plumb with the firewall and that

  it is level laterally with the gear pockets.

  Note: It is very important to get the canard top and gear pocket top to

  match up laterally. Your center spar and your canard rest on these and

  this will make sure that they line up laterally."

  I assume this means that the top of the canard bulkhead and the top of the gear pockets need to be at the same elevation. The problem is mine don't work out that way. I've double and triple checked fuselage level (I'm using a water level) and bulkhead placement, but the top of the canard bulkhead is about 2.5" higher than the top of the gear pockets (not even close to level!). The canard bulkhead is the original with the kit and has a flange all the way around. It is just shy of 16" high in the middle.

  Anybody have any ideas of what I'm doing wrong or can check?



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