construction site

dspender · #1 02-03-2013, 12:48 PM

I plan to build my RV14 on the second floor of our carriage house. I will need to extract the fuselage through the carriage house door located in the center of the second floor about 10 feet above the driveway. The doors in aggregate measure 6'wide x 8' high, however the manageable space to take the project out is 5'5'' x 5'5''. Do you see any problem bringing the completed fuselage, minus the landing gear, outside this space? Would I need to remove the vertical stabelizer? Can I leave the engine mounted? Any suggestions what piece of equipment to use to bring it out and to the ground? I thought of a skytrac. I don't know how to insert a picture from my harddrive to this post, otherwise I could show you where the door is.

dspender · #2 02-03-2013, 12:57 PM

I think I figured out how to post an image of my carriage house. You can see in the center on the second floor the door I hope to remove the fuselage through.

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/...riagehouse.jpg

airguy · #3 02-03-2013, 01:19 PM

It will be bad enough handling the fuselage without the engine on it, I would not even consider trying to take it out the door with the engine mounted.

dspender · #4 02-03-2013, 02:27 PM

I pretty much realized I would not be able to keep the engine mounted as I brought it out. My basic question though depends on the size of the completed fuselage. Will it, minus the engine, fit through the 5.5' x 5.5' opening? Will I need to do that without the vertical stabelizer? I am thinking a skytrac with arm extenders that could lift up a woodpallet placed under and strapped to the fuselage would let me ease the fusealge out this space.

airguy · #5 02-03-2013, 08:14 PM

Well if you've got a Skytrak then the engine is a possibility, if you lead engine-first out the window and support that weight first. Roll it close, stick the forks in and strap it up, then lift and pull. The tail will be light then, definitely pull the VS off (an hours work), too much thin metal waiting for a minor bump.

dspender · #6 02-04-2013, 05:01 AM

How about the HS? I assumed I would need to remove that, or does the construction process not allow that? The opening is 5.5' x 5.5'. Also I am trying to obtain the largest outside dimensions (width and height) at the cabin of the 14. I assume this is the widest and tallest area. I could call Van's but I thought someone out there would know.

airguy · #7 02-04-2013, 07:17 AM

The VS and HS can be removed pretty quickly, it's not a major task.

dspender · #8 02-04-2013, 07:34 AM

Thanks for you help.

rleffler · #9 02-04-2013, 07:55 AM

Wouldn't you need the gear on, for the engine to be on? I suspect that the gear will put you over your 5.5' opening.

The HA and VS aren't an issue. Mine were off on my RV-10 until well after I moved to the hangar.

bob

dspender · #10 02-04-2013, 10:45 AM

You have more understanding than I. I believed I could construct the fuselage with HS, VS, engine and landing gear on the second floor of my carriage house. Then my plan was to remove the HS, VS, and landing gear and with a skytrac remove the fuselage and engine outside through the 5.5' x 5.5' opening on the second floor. Then reattach the landing gear, VS, and HS. Pipe dream or definitely workable?