Matt's RV-8 Project



Matt Dralle's RV-8 Project
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Date:  7-17-2010
Number of Hours:  8.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Wheelpants - A Second Try - Part 01

I was never very happy with the original set of wheelpants I made. I had sort of botched up the gear fairing contour fiberglass pieces such that they didn't fit very well, the front half/back halves didn't fit very tightly, and the surface smoothness after adding the full coat of resin to the exterior left a lot to be desired.

Additionally, after the brake fire during the high-speed taxi tests, the bottoms of the wheelpants were a little disfigured. I also discovered that I hadn't relieved the brake calipers on the original pants either which contributed to the deformation when they got so hot.

Finally, the original pants were mounted vertically according to the plans, but I found that when I put the plane weight down on the tires, the ground clearance was minimal. So little, in fact, that I couldn't get a wheel caulk behind the wheel. I also discovered that the back of the wheelpant would drag on the door track for the hanger door! And, at one point, actually cracked a huge section of the right wheelpant right behind the tire.

So, needless to say, I was pretty dissatisfied with the whole attempt. I decided to just order up a complete new set of pants and give the whole installation another try.

It was a LOT of work, and most of it was done out at the hanger with temps in the high 90's and 100's! But, I'd learned a lot with those first ones, and tried not to make any of those mistakes. I cut a round 2.5" inch hole in the side of the wheelpant for the brake caliper to stick through, then added several layers of glasscloth and resin to form a "blister" of sorts on the side of the wheelpant. I also mounted the wheelpant at the plans-recommended height, but this time with the full weight of the airplane on the tires. This yielded a much higher installation of the pant and I've now got plenty of ground clearance. I can even get a normal wheel caulk behind the wheel. Ground clearance over the hangar door track is no problem.

Cont. Next Log...
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Wheelpants - Second Try

Wheelpants - Second Try

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Wheelpants - Second Try

Wheelpants - Second Try

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Wheelpants - Second Try

Wheelpants - Second Try

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