RudiGreyling
Well Known Member
Some RV owners complain that people push too hard on their arm rest when getting in or out of the plane and then bend it.
I have seen how some people reinforce theirs with elaborate ideas and have come up with my own method that I think is simple and elegant.
Simply put a 1/2" 0.064 aluminium angle for the full length on the straight edge facing down and back. This have the following advantages:
- No additional holes in the main airframe
- The down force is distributed along the enitre arm rest
- Can be done before the armrest are fitted or retro fitted on existing installations
- Minimal weight addition (66 grams or 2.3 oz)
- Does not change the appearance of the arm rest, one would hardly notice the difference, only a row of rivits
- Create a nice smooth finished edge on the bottom of the arm rest compared the original thin edge, since the L bends backswards.
- Creates a lip to wrap upholstery around.
- 2 hours of work for piece of mind
- Since it is not structural you can use your home depot or hardware store variety alu angle here, so it is cheap.
Below are some photos, more on my website under Tips and Tricks
Here are the components with the 1/2" alu anlge cut to length:
Mark even spacing for the rivets aprox 30mm or 1"1/8:
Clamp the angle so that it aligns with the lip, and test that you can get a rivet squeezer in there:
Drill and clecko as you go, debur, dimple the armrest and countersink the alu angle:
Rivet it together using your rivet squeezer:
A picture of it being fitted to the airplane.
Kind Regards
Rudi
I have seen how some people reinforce theirs with elaborate ideas and have come up with my own method that I think is simple and elegant.
Simply put a 1/2" 0.064 aluminium angle for the full length on the straight edge facing down and back. This have the following advantages:
- No additional holes in the main airframe
- The down force is distributed along the enitre arm rest
- Can be done before the armrest are fitted or retro fitted on existing installations
- Minimal weight addition (66 grams or 2.3 oz)
- Does not change the appearance of the arm rest, one would hardly notice the difference, only a row of rivits
- Create a nice smooth finished edge on the bottom of the arm rest compared the original thin edge, since the L bends backswards.
- Creates a lip to wrap upholstery around.
- 2 hours of work for piece of mind
- Since it is not structural you can use your home depot or hardware store variety alu angle here, so it is cheap.
Below are some photos, more on my website under Tips and Tricks
Here are the components with the 1/2" alu anlge cut to length:
Mark even spacing for the rivets aprox 30mm or 1"1/8:
Clamp the angle so that it aligns with the lip, and test that you can get a rivet squeezer in there:
Drill and clecko as you go, debur, dimple the armrest and countersink the alu angle:
Rivet it together using your rivet squeezer:
A picture of it being fitted to the airplane.
Kind Regards
Rudi