Airfoil Gear anybody?

[Mach.26]

What about the standard lightweight gear are they still taking orders for those?

[rv8ch]

Sounds like another business opportunity for someone wanting to get into that business!

Not to confuse things more, they also offered a single piece RV8 gear which seems like a great idea. I've got the two piece but would have been happy to get the single piece had I known about it.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...ad.php?t=74993

[scard]

I've had my pair sitting in the back of a closet for years, and I ain't sellin' .

[Larco]

My question is if you have purchased the gear and are using it, what happens if you damage it and need support? Install Vans gear?

[RV7A Flyer]

OK, I have a 7A, not an 8, so I have to ask (since I have buddies who have 8s)...what's the big advantage? Weight? Airspeed? Ease of construction? etc.

I'm genuinely curious, since the guys I know with 8s w/ standard Van's gear seem to have no issues and plenty of airspeed . And...wondering if there might be an equivalent advantage for a 7, for example, if someone were to make similar gear for them...

Just curious, really...

[rv8ch]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

OK, I have a 7A, not an 8, so I have to ask (since I have buddies who have 8s)...what's the big advantage? Weight? Airspeed? Ease of construction? etc.

The Van's RV-8 gear is a giant flat piece of steel that has been shaped into a gear leg - quite different from the other RV models. The Grove gear makes this out of aluminum saving quite a bit of weight. The airflow version eliminates the need to make a fiberglass fairing.

The airflow gear has the brake line drilled through, eliminated the need for a brake line running down the gear leg. Not sure about the non-airfoil gear.

Essentially the Grove gear is lighter and looks cool. Installation is about the same it seems.

http://www.rv8.ch/grove-landing-gear/

[ctennis]

Non airfoil gear also has gun drilled brake line.

[scard]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

Essentially the Grove gear is lighter and looks cool.

http://www.rv8.ch/grove-landing-gear/

I was going to say the same. Sex appeal! Why else would you build a -8?

[DanH]

The airfoil gear is lighter than stock steel gear legs, but heavier as compared to the standard aluminum Grove gear. From a purely practical standpoint, it's better to use the flat bar Grove and fiberglass fairings. Lot easier to maintain too. The legs are 7075 alloy, so they are not very corrosion resistant. If polished, they need to be re-polished and waxed on a regular basis, and I wouldn't even think about doing it in a salt atmosphere region. If painted, they will need clear plastic chip protection on the leading edges.

Scott has it right. Polished airfoil legs are the push-up bra of the RV-8 world. There is no rational reason for them, but they look great on the right airfame.

[Djgeib]

They say timing is everything. I called Grove to put in an order in June as I had heard there could be long lead times. I felt I would need the gear by December or January. The Grove rep informed me they had just run a batch an had an extra one if I wanted it now, so I took it. They had the set to me in a week. They are beautiful.
Sorry to hear they are not taking orders. I would think as long as the demand is there they would continue to build them. I would also assume that they need a certain number of firm orders to manufacture a batch of them to make it economically viable for them.