REFLECTOR: Fixed vs RG

[Dave Philipsen]

Hi Dave,

Even though I have absolutely no experience with the FGs, I'd have to 
agree with you to.  I don't necessarily think that it's a big safety 
issue with the RGs.  It just seems that a person would devote a lot of 
time to upkeep and repair.  Even if the gear could be made more reliable 
everyone seems to agree that it's not a matter of *if* but *when* you'll 
have a gear-up landing.  Some of the guys on the other canard forums 
even joke about being members of the "Nose Draggers Elite" or the "Nose 
Draggers Club".  If I had a retractable and *ever* had a gear-up 
landing, I can almost guarantee that my wife would never fly with me again.

Anyway, I got interested when you started talking about the custom wheel 
pants.  I've got a STD FG  and the wheel pants are getting a little beat 
up.  I am not the builder nor do I have much experience with composites 
and building.  But, I was thinking it might be a nice starter project to 
build a new set of pants.  Is the design of your pants available from 
the designer?  Do you have a picture of them? 


Dave Dent wrote:
> This is only my opinion, but if I was to do it all over I would go the fixed 
> gear with a good set of the best wheel pants for low drag and cooling for 
> the brakes you can get.  The wheel pants design can give you speed and 
> cooling for brakes if done right.
> I would also go with carbon lay-ups on the gear for added strength.  I 
> installed the carbon braded carbon sleeve on mine.  It cost me another $250 
> in materials but I have more confidence in them now. Also use the best bolts 
> you can buy in the mounting of the gear.  At least grade eight bolts. For 
> those that haven't changed out the bolts, do it now.  To me this should be a 
> mandatory thing to do.
>
> I did this on my Long EZ and Cozy and got both.  The Cozy was seeing 185kts 
> indicated at 4500 ft.  Just get the drag down. Some times this out-weighs 
> the retractable.
>
> By the way my wheel pants were designed by Cory Bird. He was the designer 
> and builder of the grand champion winner at OSH. 2004  You may have seen it. 
> He calls it Symmetry N241ST.  When ever it shows up at a fly-in and if it's 
> going to be judged; all the others wanting to be judged just as well go 
> home. I rebuilt the engine on it while he was building the plane.
>
> The very fact of the complexity of the RG is not worth it.  Yes it looks 
> cool like I said but not worth the problems, especially with the Velo XL/RG. 
> As well the RG will bring more money when you go to sell it but if not 
> selling, it don't matter.  I have to say this and my it may make some people 
> upset but the Velocity gear has a long way to go to make it not a concern 
> for kit builders.  It can make or brake a good aircraft, even if it's one of 
> the best flying machines in the industry, and I think it is.
> Dave
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>   

-- 
Dave Philipsen
STDFG
N171SP