Stick Assemblies

[Acroeric]

Fellow clip wing builders. I am in the process of having my Stick Assembly built at a local machine shop. It is similar to the Swick design but is based largely on the Pitts type design. Anyway- the more I have made the cheaper it gets. If anyone is interested I plan to have the following items built:

1) Stick Assy, ready to weld in
2) Pushrods
3) Bellcranks

I should have a quote soon. Materials cost will be around $300- not sure about labor. There will be some minor fitting and welding required on your part when you go to install it but should save us a ton of time.

[ClipWing_T]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Eric ,I would be intrested .My airplane is a Cole/Swick conversion with the Cole stick assembly(pulleys) I would have to cut that assembly out,everyone I have talked to has said the bellcrank system is way superior than the Cole version. Duane flew several thousand hours in his plane with very good results
but it is easy to see there's a better system than all the pulleys and cables.My arse hits the contol tube when I let the sling down where I'm comfortable. I wish Mr. Taylor had been 6'ft.4" and 250 lbs.LOL Get some quotes please and maybe I can afford it.
Mike in East Texas

[jgerard]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Eric-

Is this going to be a dual stick, or single seat (center) stick?

Jason

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

It will be a center stick with an adapter for flight with 2 onboard. I have used this setup for a long time and it works great. When doing acro with 2 on board you can not get full aileron deflection with the Cole or the Swick. That is a change I am trying to accomplish on this one so you can. Nothing like a roll at half rate when you need full rate-

[Vasey fan]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Count me in also (pending quote).

Will the bellcranks be aluminum or 4130?

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Everything will be 4130, I am evaluating the use of aluminum for the pushrods though. Basically - I will go with the absolute lightest material that offers acceptable strength.

[ohlinger]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Eric,
I might be interested as well. Currently own a 180hp clip wing t craft and have most of the parts to assemble another. I have a couple of projects, like my own runway, and restoring a 48 Bonanza that I need to finish first, befre I can devote much time on the project.
Mark Ohlinger

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Mark- How does the 180 do? I had a Cole with a big hopped up Lycoming- mine was really heavy though. I am sticking with a pumped up C90 this time.

Looks like we have 3-5 interested, I will take the plans over to my machine shop buddy and get a quote.

[Vasey fan]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Eric, another question.

I'm assuming this includes the aileron pushrods, and if so, is the length compatible with the Swick wing dimensions?

Just thinking ahead so I don't paint myself into a corner.

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Yep- so far the pushrod will mate to the original Swick design bellcrank, the front of the stick assy and the internal pushrod is different, as is the height/ geometry on the forward side. To the non-clipwing educated, you would never notice.

[ohlinger]

Re: Stick Assemblies

[Acroeric]Mark- How does the 180 do? I had a Cole with a big hopped up Lycoming- mine was really heavy though. I am sticking with a pumped up C90 this time.

Eric- we have a Swick conversion, and the 180 does great! We have owned the plane for a couple of years, but I have not had any time to learn any aerobatics. This thing called a job keeps getting in the way, along with belonging to way too many organizations. When I brought it home, it had been a long time since I had flown a t-craft...this bird, in my mind, does not fly like a t-craft. It has a heavier feel to it, especially on the ground. The power is great to have.... the plane just jumps into the air on take off and has a great climb rate. My wife and I really enjoy the plane. I have wondered what a 90hp would fly like, I wonder if it will have the feel more like a standard t-craft?
Mark Ohlinger, Akron, Ohio
1946 14-13 Bellanca Cruisair
1946 180hp Clip Wing T-Craft
1948 Bonanza under restoration
someday our own house hangar and runway

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Mark- What does your Swick weigh? My Cole was like 1080 or so- which is really heavy. The lighter Continental powered planes do retain the Tcraft handling qualities- My Cole was not really a tcraft either- very fast nice to fly just heavier.

If one could cram an 0-320 in the nose and keep the empty weight at 850 or so you would probably have the best of both worlds. I think Duane Cole's plane was 835 but h ealso had no electrical, 1 door, and his was a 1938 fuselage. I have thought of going with a conical 0-320 non-electric conversion but the weight scares me. Nick Coleman's Swick with a 320 came in at 932, his is pretty basic and trying to remove 85 pounds would be tough. My new wings should be 55 pounds per side- that will help.

I guess it all coms down to power to weight ratios- here is what I have been looking at-
-Hopped up C90 (110 hp) powered plane could come in at 700 for 6.4 lbs/hp
-0-320 powered (160 hp) powered plane would be 925 for 5.8 lbs/hp

The aerobatic weight numbers are really close until you add pilot and fuel
700(plane)+200(pilot)+50(fuel)=950/110=8.6 lbs/hp
925(plane)+200(pilot)+60(fuel)=1185/160=7.4 lbs/hp

Not much difference is it- Until you get to gross weights. I used 1300 for the C90 (11.8 lbs/hp) and 1450 for the 0-320 powered plane (9 lbs/hp)

I guess if you had a non-electric 0-320 powered plane, wood prop, 5.00x5 wheels, and lightened everything possible oyu could come in under 900 but it would be tough.

[ohlinger]

Re: Stick Assemblies

[QUOTE=Acroeric]Mark- What does your Swick weigh?

Eric,
Sorry for the delayed response to your quesiton. The paperwork on our t-craft was at the hangar and it has taken me until now to get it and look it over. According to the paperwork on our plane, it weighs 985 lbs. It has 180hp, wood prop, 500x5 wheels, smoke system, no wheel pants, no interior, and no heat....boy is it cold in the winter <g>

[Acroeric]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Mark- Do you have metal or wood spars? Seems like the metal spar option that Swick had added about 25 pounds to the weight. My little 0-200 powered Swick had the metal spars and it made for a really rough ride.

I have been busy cutting steel and getting the geometry right on the stick assy. I made a mistake and ordered a torque tube that was way too heavy and large (2" x .050) and did not leave enough bungee cord clearance. Anyway- the new torque tube (1 1/2 x .032) is in with my wood order and should be here any day now. I have made all the extra brackets and support tubes though. I used .050 and will have to drill many lightning holes. I could have probably done fine with .032 but for bearing areas I was a bit nervous about twisting and wear.

Be patient- I should be ready to start welding on it soon. I will then take it to a shop and get some quotes.

[ohlinger]

Re: Stick Assemblies

Eric,
Our clip wing has the metal spar Swick wings. I was hoping to fly her today, but just didn't get around to it.......