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Gust Locks -- Redux

bjdecker

Well Known Member
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I was describing my solution to this problem to my friends at lunch last week, and they just couldn't grasp how you could use a beer can koozie as a rudder/elevator/aileron gust lock. So I had to show them...and show off the new paint too :)
 

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Koozy

Brilliant! It might take drinking quite a few beers to get adequate immobilization of the control surfaces......

John
 
I must be missing something......... It appears to me that you are depending on friction to hold the rudder. If a strong enough gust came along, wouldn't the rudder swing and release the "Koozie", which would then immediately depart smartly downwind?
 
I must be missing something......... It appears to me that you are depending on friction to hold the rudder. If a strong enough gust came along, wouldn't the rudder swing and release the "Koozie", which would then immediately depart smartly downwind?

It does rely on the interference fit/friction applied between the counterbalance arm and tip fairing. Granted, I haven't parked in gale force winds at angles approaching 90° to the wind; but for the average kite weather, winds 15G30, it works quite well.
 
Wow! That's the quickest response I've ever gotten on any forum! :)

I guess my response would be: "It will work well, ...... until it doesn't.:rolleyes:

I would prefer something a bit more robust, myself. Probably just fine for an hour or two stop when you know the weather is fine.

But an unexpected TS can wreak havoc. YMMV, as always.
 
I like it, although I think I would prefer just using some scrap neoprene. A free beer cozy is just too tempting to those admiring that paint job!
 
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