Shock absorbing Landing gear
12-06-2002, 11:54 PM
#1
Shock absorbing Landing gear
I have built and used a shock absorbing landing gear system that I have used successfully on three tricycle geared airplanes. "Astro Hog, Tigerkitten and Super Kaos" Weighing from 4 to 9.5 pounds. it weighs about the same as wire gear. I use R/C car shocks which cost about $15 a set of two shocks. Install them just like the swing arm is on a motorcycle. Landings are bounce free on the grass field I fly from.
12-07-2002, 01:00 PM
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12-07-2002, 02:29 PM
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Shock absorbing Landing gear
Hello all!
If one of you other guys get a picture maybe you can post it here for all of us other ones that would love to see this neet idea.
If one of you other guys get a picture maybe you can post it here for all of us other ones that would love to see this neet idea.
12-09-2002, 05:29 PM
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Shock absorbing Landing gear
Please help this newby.
Is the front strut the like the original LG strut which is normally mounted 90o on the wing. Is this canted back to act as a spring.
Or is this front strut hinged at the front with no spring action relying on the rear to take most of the down thrust. In that case where is the spring action?.
I presume you made modifications to the wing to take the forces applied to the wing.
Thanks
Galen
Is the front strut the like the original LG strut which is normally mounted 90o on the wing. Is this canted back to act as a spring.
Or is this front strut hinged at the front with no spring action relying on the rear to take most of the down thrust. In that case where is the spring action?.
I presume you made modifications to the wing to take the forces applied to the wing.
Thanks
Galen
12-09-2002, 11:11 PM
#12
Shock absorbing Landing gear
THe front arm pivots in the Landing gear block, which is a grooved block of hardwood ,5 inches long, inside the wing. The rear one is fixed in anothor landing gear block inside the wing. The spring action is all inside the shock absorber. When I land with this system it does not bounce at all and it taxies and takes off just fine.
12-13-2002, 07:03 PM
#15
Shock absorbing Landing gear
Both ends of the shock attach the same way. The wire strut runs through the end "I bolt" and is held there with two wheel collars. This allows it to pivot a little. The two "I bolt" ends of the shock are a bit large so I shimmed the wire with fuel line hose. This setup allows the wheel to swing aft and up on landing about 3/4 inch. Doesn't seem like much but seems to be adequate. Need to check for prop clearance with shock compressed when deciding how tall to make the L.G. Sent you a private message with more info.
12-13-2002, 08:14 PM
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Shock absorbing Landing gear
I take it the front mount is the original position of the LG and this causes the LG to be back of it's original position. Any problams with balance?
do I read it right that the rear strut is anchored to the wing and then terminates with an L Bend which goes through the "eye bolt" end of the shock.
similarly the front strut is hinged at the wing and ends with an L Bend. Does the lower end of the shock and the wheel slip over this L bend possibly held in place with collars?
I presume that the rear strut has to take the bulk of the downward force.
Would it work to place the rear strut into the original LG mounting block and create the new anchor for the front strut ahead or the original LG block. I presume that this block would only take the force of the foreward motion.
Thanks for the help
do I read it right that the rear strut is anchored to the wing and then terminates with an L Bend which goes through the "eye bolt" end of the shock.
similarly the front strut is hinged at the wing and ends with an L Bend. Does the lower end of the shock and the wheel slip over this L bend possibly held in place with collars?
I presume that the rear strut has to take the bulk of the downward force.
Would it work to place the rear strut into the original LG mounting block and create the new anchor for the front strut ahead or the original LG block. I presume that this block would only take the force of the foreward motion.
Thanks for the help
12-14-2002, 12:42 AM
#17
Shock absorbing Landing gear
Yes you understand it perfectly! In order to decide where to put the L.G. blocks I made a full scale sketch and positioned the blocks to put the wheel at the same location shown on the print that came with the airplane kit.
12-24-2002, 05:24 PM
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rcm c-45 plan
hello,
thanks for this idea,this will work great to solve the problem of the landing gear using g-pad in the rcm plan of the beech c-45.i will use the shock absorber instead of the g-pad.plane should weigh about 4-5 pounds,what type shock absorbers would you recommend.thanks.john
thanks for this idea,this will work great to solve the problem of the landing gear using g-pad in the rcm plan of the beech c-45.i will use the shock absorber instead of the g-pad.plane should weigh about 4-5 pounds,what type shock absorbers would you recommend.thanks.john
12-24-2002, 10:15 PM
#19
LG
I suggest you get the smallest lightest ones you can find. That is what I did. I have used the plastic ones and the aluminium ones and they both work fine but the plastic ones are lighter and cheaper. The one in the photo is aluminum. Good luck..Jim
