REFLECTOR: Main Gear Doors

Scott Derrick scott at tnstaafl.net
Tue Jun 26 08:43:55 CDT 2012


Mine is the back(rear) side of the door where it crosses the top of the 
fuselage. Interesting it doesn't leak much at all when flying, only when 
sitting on the ramp in the rain.

Scott

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Main Gear Doors
From: Tom Falls <tomfalls6 at gmail.com>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Date: 06/25/2012 04:38 PM

> Scott,
>
> Where are the leaks relative to the people doors? Does the seal circling the opening leak?
>
> I think I have the hinge area sealed pretty well (I'll check when the plane is turned back up right). I created a 2 BID sheet (cured flat on a table) then cut it into 5" x 6" pieces that I used to cover the hinge pockets by " glueing" them to the ceiling with an epoxy-cab-flox mix. Easy to do while the plane is upside down, but probably not too difficult right side up either.
>
> Tom
>
>
> On Jun 23, 2012, at 9:55 AM, Scott Derrick<scott at tnstaafl.net>  wrote:
>
>> I wouldn't worry about the gear leg openings.
>>
>> If you can keep the water out from the people doors and the canard, your doing better than most.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Main Gear Doors
>> From: Tom Falls<tomfalls6 at gmail.com>
>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list<reflector at tvbf.org>
>> Date: 06/22/2012 04:23 PM
>>
>>> Thanks Alex. What about rain when flying or water when washing the plane. Isn't the bottom of the gear opening in the fuselage likely to let water into the back of the plane? Perhaps the small door may help when flying if used with the gear leg doors, but certainly not while hosing the plane off on the ground.
>>>
>>> What are others seeing in terms of water in the plane that can be traced to the gear opening in the fuselage? Is it not an issue or is there some other way besides the gear doors to prevent this?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Tom
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>> On Jun 22, 2012, at 11:31 AM, "Alex"<velocity_pilot at verizon.net>   wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi Tom,
>>>> Not only are the small doors no longer used, but a lot of owners have
>>>> removed the gear leg cover portions of the gear doors, leaving only the
>>>> wheel covers in place with little or no effect on airspeed.  Removing the
>>>> gear leg covers does however allow a significantly higher gear extension
>>>> speed.
>>>>
>>>> Alex
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>>>> Behalf Of Tom Falls
>>>> Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 8:58 AM
>>>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>>>> Subject: REFLECTOR: Main Gear Doors
>>>>
>>>> My old build manual (1996?) shows the fabrication and installation of a
>>>> small 3" hinged door at the fuselage junction of the main gear doors.
>>>> Looking thru the build manuals on line, I don't see any reference to this
>>>> small door. Is this small door needed and just overlooked in the new manuals
>>>> or has it been determined to be of no value?
>>>>
>>>> Are there any consequences of not having this door from a speed, air
>>>> infiltration, moisture from rain or other stand point?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Tom
>>>>
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>>
>> --
>> Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
>> Ralph Waldo Emerson
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> _______________________________________________
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>
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