Tie down rings on or off.

[larrynew]

Can someone please make folding tie downs for our RVs? An aerodynamic blister or fairing shape with a center bolt and a fold down ring. Google folding tie downs or folding race hooks and there are lots of ideas. The ones below are just rough ideas.

[Crafting N112DR]

Have these on my plane, adds 25 kts easy, plus they look cool.

http://www.aircraftspecialty.com/Sta...e%20Downs.html

[FinnFlyer]

One thing about leaving them out: mud daubers! At least in Florida where I'm located.

Had a heck of a time getting one screwed in when I needed it. I don't carry a 3/8-24 tab (or whatever the thread is) with me.

Perhaps I should look into a plastic plug of some sort.

Finn

[Richard Connell]

Short grip length AN45 eye bolt. I think it?s an AN45-4 (or -5) from memory.


https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...eboltsan45.php

[Alchemist]

We made ours so we had a tie down/jack point.



https://photos.app.goo.gl/jnh3YgLCYvrPbkUFA

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Charlie12

When I occasionally tie down outside I put the ropes thru the wingtip hand holds. Seems to work fine.

Probably would work fine in winds wheret the only concern is about the airplane getting turned/moved slightly, but in instances where weather is severe and you really hope to keep a light airplane like an RV-12 from flying out of it's tie down spot, I would not recommend using the lifting handles on the wing tips.

They are not designed to take anywhere near the loads that the threaded tie down anchor can.

[N941WR]

One of the reasons to remove them is the potential issue with dissimilar corrosion; steel threads in an aluminum fixture.

For that reason, I do not leave them in when flying.

[rocketman1988]

The potential for corrosion is ALWAYS there unless the two metals are the same. Looking at the galvanic corrosion charts, Cad plated steel is generally not an issue with aluminum. Stainless can be an issue, as it is further from aluminum on the chart and Titanium is even further. Using aluminum rings would be bad due to the lack of comparable strength and the tendency for aluminum on aluminum tends to gall very easily. Using stela's or even stainless with a light grease or anti seize is probably the best balance between strength and potential corrosion issues...

[Charlie12]

In line with Finn's reminder about mud daubers, I searched around online and did manage to find white plastic push-in cap plugs that fit the tiedown holes and protrude very little on the outside. I bought several spares but the originals have stayed in place for 3 1/2 years.

I agree with the recommendation that it would be unwise to use wingtip lift handles to tie down in strong wind. I taught structural design for 30+ years and the relative strength observation makes perfect sense. With an airplane as light as an LSA I don't do anything in strong wind.

[Dvalcik]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

Probably would work fine in winds wheret the only concern is about the airplane getting turned/moved slightly, but in instances where weather is severe and you really hope to keep a light airplane like an RV-12 from flying out of it's tie down spot, I would not recommend using the lifting handles on the wing tips.

They are not designed to take anywhere near the loads that the threaded tie down anchor can.

Agree with Scott, on one of the trips to Oshkosh 3 of us stopped in Dayton to visit the Museum, we got a call that next morning from the FBO stating there were 3 RVs trying to fly away. The good news the tie-downs worked despite the heavy winds and damage around the area















Note the damage at the Wright Brothers Historical site that morning.

All three of us had the standard tie downs