Hi folks,
I have been reading about what I guess is a relatively common modification: building a removable cover for the gear towers for the RV 8. The following picture and brief thread is most of what I find in terms of documentation:
http://www2.mstewart.net:8080/super8/geartower/index.htm
I wondered what Van's had to say about this, as several people had asked questions about the structural safety of this modification. Their answer is as follows:
"We have not evaluated alternative methods in this area. A removable
cover should be OK, assuming it is attached with screws at a similar
spacing to the rivets. It is more work and weight, but if you think
you'll need better access for retorquing the gear bolts, it may be
worth it."
I suppose that is as clear an endorsement as we are likely to see.
I am planning to go forward with this modification. I have searched the archives here, at Rivetbangers and on the Matronics site. There is really sparse documentation. If anyone has any additional pictures, comments or observations of potential pitfalls, please share them. I will try to document my modification as thoroughly as possible and post it here for future reference.
Michael Wynn
RV 8 Fuselage
San Ramon, CA
I have been reading about what I guess is a relatively common modification: building a removable cover for the gear towers for the RV 8. The following picture and brief thread is most of what I find in terms of documentation:
http://www2.mstewart.net:8080/super8/geartower/index.htm
I wondered what Van's had to say about this, as several people had asked questions about the structural safety of this modification. Their answer is as follows:
"We have not evaluated alternative methods in this area. A removable
cover should be OK, assuming it is attached with screws at a similar
spacing to the rivets. It is more work and weight, but if you think
you'll need better access for retorquing the gear bolts, it may be
worth it."
I suppose that is as clear an endorsement as we are likely to see.
I am planning to go forward with this modification. I have searched the archives here, at Rivetbangers and on the Matronics site. There is really sparse documentation. If anyone has any additional pictures, comments or observations of potential pitfalls, please share them. I will try to document my modification as thoroughly as possible and post it here for future reference.
Michael Wynn
RV 8 Fuselage
San Ramon, CA