REFLECTOR: Damper

Andy Millin amillin at sbcglobal.net
Mon Aug 29 10:28:27 CDT 2011


The damper is like everything on an airplane; a compromise.

 

My motivation comes in large part from talking with those that have had a
shimmy.  Those that have had a shimmy, don’t EVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

 

Those that haven’t are not as concerned, or may even see this as frivolous
and unnecessary.  To each his own.

 

A bad shimmy doesn’t just shake the confidence, it can damage the plane and
possibly leave one stranded.

 

Scott Swing was sure that proper landing technique can eliminate most of the
shimmy problem.  One must gain the experience first though.  :)

 

Mark Riley suffered a bad shimmy incident with his XL/RG just before coming
to Oshkosh.  The difference between shimmy and no shimmy was ¼ turn of the
nut.

 

Let me be clear.  I believe the current setup works.  One must check the nut
tension as part of the pre-flight.  Forgetting once can be unforgiving.

 

The new damper costs more, weighs more, and adds complexity.  Like most
stuff in aviation.  It also provides positive damping and improved ground
handling. 

 

Andy

 

 

 

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Douglas Holub
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 10:06 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Damper

 

Before I started flying I installed a locking pin a la Mishler on my Cozy
nose wheel just in case there were any shimmy problems. My design wouldn't
let the nose wheel rotate 360 degrees, and it was a nuisance moving the
plane. It sounds like this damper is a good idea, but I'm sure you'll want
to make a tow bar and find a place for it in the plane for traveling.

 

I never got around to making a tow bar, and then after I started flying I've
never had a hint of a shimmy.  My pre-flight does include checking the nose
wheel for tightness. (If it is not hard to move with my foot it is too
loose), but maybe the more flexible fiberglass strut has something to do
with it, too. 

 

I removed the locking pin this year, and I love having a full castering nose
wheel again. I hope I'm not putting a damper on this promising damper idea.

 

Doug Holub

Standard FG with electric nose lift.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Andy Millin <mailto:amillin at sbcglobal.net>  

To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list' <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>


Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 9:34 AM

Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Damper

 

Not shown in the picture was the steering limiter.  If you look at the
Damper 3 picture, you’ll see the studs sticking out of the top of the gear
fork.  They are AN-4 bolts that have the heads cut off.  There is a pawl
mounted on the king pin.  The pawl hits the stops before it hits the limits
on the damper.

 

So, yes, we will need to have some type of steering/tow bar.  This is the
same arrangement that you have on just about all production aircraft.

 

I would ask John to comment on what it was like to push the plane around
with the damper on it.

 

I know this solution is not for everyone.  I feel what I am gaining is worth
more than what I am giving up.

 

You may feel differently.

 

Andy

 

 

 

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of John Dibble
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 8:58 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Damper

 

  

Andy Millin wrote: 

  

Items of Note: 

                The damper is hydraulic.  It is an arm that sweeps inside of
a pie shaped chamber.  There is enough range to do a single wheel locked
turn.  It will not spin 360 degrees. 

  

So, pushing the plane backwards won't be easy?

John

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