These carbon landing gears combine
aesthetics and function into one light weight package.
Phil
Grandersons airplane with a Winship Models carbon fiber landing gear.
The Carbon Fiber Landing Gear as it appears on the
Chiros 2
These carbon fiber landing gears are constructed with 100% continuous carbon
fiber tow and high temperature epoxy. No silicone mold releases are used to
allow for painting if desired. The carbon fiber gear allows for a smaller
cross section with less drag and less weight than is obtainable when using
aluminum. The gear is designed for three 4-40 mounting bolts, two in front
and one in back. The weight of these landing gears are approximately 25
grams each. This will usually amount to a 50% weight savings over an
aluminum gear. Any time you can cut out weight that is hanging below the
vertical center of gravity or below the airplane you will enhance the inside
cornering and overall performance of the airplane. The center section of
this gear is 2 1/2 inches wide to accommodate today's stunt fuselage dimensions.
Dimension from the front of the landing gear to the aft on the flat mounting pad
is 1 1/4 inches. Gear height is 3 7/8 inches with a span of 12 1/2 inches.
There are two versions of the three bolt carbon fiber landing gears
available. 30 grams stiff and 25 grams normal. The stiffer gear will
work well on airplanes in excess of 60 ounces. Specify 25 grams or 30
grams when ordering.
Prototype carbon fiber landing gear with a hump in the
center for tuned pipe clearance. The hump tapers downward in
back providing extra clearance for the leading edge of the
wing. The gear pictured is going to be used as a plug to make the
carbon fiber landing gear mold. This gear like the others utilizes
an airfoiled cross section.
Close up of the
carbon fiber hump gear center section. The gear is designed to be
mounted with four bolts. Notice the downward taper of the hump to
allow the carbon fiber gear to nest under the leading edge section of
the wing.
This carbon fiber gear is designed to mount with four bolts.
The enlarged mounting plate will allow this gear to drop in place on the
SV-11piped series of airplanes. The cross section of the gear legs are a
teardrop configuration to allow for rigidity and less drag. The weight of
this gear is 34 grams. One advantage of a carbon gear is the ability
of the gear to flex without loading. Aluminum seems to load under a
landing and spring back creating a bounce. Carbon fiber gears seems to
absorb more of the airplanes inertia creating less chance for a bounce.
The dimensions of this gear match the SV-11 piped kit gear that Randy Smith of
Aero Products sells. The span of this gear is 12 1/2 inches. I have
extended the axle legs to accommodate a larger propeller if needed. If the
axle leg is too long they can be trimmed to suit the propeller ground clearance.
The span of the mounting plate is 2 5/8 inches and 1 3/8 inches deep. This
gear would also work great on other tuned piped airplanes of the same
configuration.
Disregard the nicks and dings they will be filled later
with balsa or putty. When mounting the carbon fiber gear it is beneficial
to use washers under the bolts to spread the load over a greater area also
aluminum bolts would help save weight over the conventional steel. The
landing gear cutout is lined with 1/64 plywood to give a cleaner looking
installation. The 1/64 plywood is used around the cowling also.
The axle pads on all of the carbon fiber landing gears are
reinforced with carbon fiber cloth for extra strength in this area.
Phil
Grandersons airplane with a Winship Models carbon fiber landing gear.
This carbon fiber gear is designed to mount with four bolts.
The enlarged mounting plate will allow this gear to drop in place on the
SV-11piped series of airplanes. The cross section of the gear legs are a
teardrop configuration to allow for rigidity and less drag. The weight of
this gear is 34 grams. One advantage of a carbon gear is the ability
of the gear to flex without loading. Aluminum seems to load under a
landing and spring back creating a bounce. Carbon fiber gears seems to
absorb more of the airplanes inertia creating less chance for a bounce.
The dimensions of this gear match the SV-11 piped kit gear that Randy Smith of
Aero Products sells. The span of this gear is 12 1/2 inches. I have
extended the axle legs to accommodate a larger propeller if needed. If the
axle leg is too long they can be trimmed to suit the propeller ground clearance.
The span of the mounting plate is 2 5/8 inches and 1 3/8 inches deep. This
gear would also work great on other tuned piped airplanes of the same
configuration. 
Disregard the nicks and dings they will be filled later
with balsa or putty. When mounting the carbon fiber gear it is beneficial
to use washers under the bolts to spread the load over a greater area also
aluminum bolts would help save weight over the conventional steel. The
landing gear cutout is lined with 1/64 plywood to give a cleaner looking
installation. The 1/64 plywood is used around the cowling also.
The axle pads on all of the carbon fiber landing gears are
reinforced with carbon fiber cloth for extra strength in this area.
