How to attach MotoPOD after hardpoint install?

sritchie · #1 11-17-2016, 08:53 AM

Hey all,

For anyone who's installed the RV10 motopod - what's the process for installing the hooks that bind the pod to the plane? I'm installing the hardpoints now and I'd expected them to protrude from the bottom skin, but it looks like I'm just preparing the airframe for later installation.

Thank you!

ppilotmike · #2 11-17-2016, 08:56 AM

Eventually, the brackets that are installed to hold the pod will protrude. These brackets are match-drilled to the hard points, as you suspected. The brackets are stainless steel.

sritchie · #3 11-17-2016, 11:43 AM

Got it, and I guess those ship with the pod itself. Thanks, Mike!

rdamazio · #4 11-19-2016, 02:49 AM

Slightly deviating from the topic, but how did you manage to get your motopod hard points at all? I've tried several times to contact them and they just won't respond.

sritchie · #5 11-19-2016, 10:07 AM

I ordered mine from David last year, and had to call him on the phone to get a hold of him - after that he was very responsive. I know he's taking a break from fabricating motopods until next year, and I'm betting on him picking it up again.

Here's the relevant post: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...=134711&page=2

ppilotmike · #6 11-21-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sritchie

I ordered mine from David last year, and had to call him on the phone to get a hold of him - after that he was very responsive. I know he's taking a break from fabricating motopods until next year, and I'm betting on him picking it up again.

Here's the relevant post: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...=134711&page=2

Yup. He's currently setting up shop in California.

JoeB · #7 01-28-2019, 04:51 PM

Does anybody know if David is still making these cargo pods, I?ve tried to reach out to them on Facebook and email and I haven?t gotten a hold of them. I?m interested in adding this particular feature I?m just not confident they?re still around if anybody has a line please shoot me a message.

1001001 · #8 01-28-2019, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeB

Does anybody know if David is still making these cargo pods, I?ve tried to reach out to them on Facebook and email and I haven?t gotten a hold of them. I?m interested in adding this particular feature I?m just not confident they?re still around if anybody has a line please shoot me a message.

I talked to David in 2017 or 2018 (can't remember now) and he said that they were still disrupted due to the move of their business. They were focusing on other product lines, and he didn't have a time frame for when they might restart the RV-10 pod product. I was hoping to find at least a set of hardpoints to install, but he said they had none left.

ppilotmike · #9 01-29-2019, 09:16 AM

David is still around. The best way to get a hold of him is to call the phone number on the website and leave a message. It may take him a while to get back to you, but I would suspect he will. Last I heard, the motopod company was making more money selling pods for surveillance/scientific purposes. It might mean less attention on the experimental marketplace, but only David can answer that question. As far as I know, they are still providing the pod for the RV-10. I am ready to paint mine, so I've been pinging David for information about his experience with Zolatone, for the interior. Be patient. It's the norm for experimental vendors..

bkmerrill · #10 01-29-2019, 11:14 AM

Got a hold of him today. He said they are out of hardware kits and not currently producing any more. Tooling is in storage. Plans are to eventually build a new shop/facility and resume production, but it could be a couple years. He said if that is the case, the retrofit after completion is not too bad. Sounds like we?re out of luck for now.

Maybe someone with the appropriate machines/know how should offer him to 3rd party the hardpoint kits using his design.