wing to fuselage gap strips

[M Towsley]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Rob,

The inspection is to look for any cracks in the mounts per the Taylorcraft Inspection Document for BC-12D, excerpt:

WING FITTINGS :

With wing root fairings removed, inspect wing fittings with a flashlight and magnifying glass for
minute cracks in the ears.

Check bolts to he sure there are no threads in bearing and bolts are properly safetied. Check wing
fitting holes for elongation by having some one pull up and down on wing tips.

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

It would be interesting to find out if said inspections ever found any cracks

A year or so ago I finished the re-cover of a 1958 Auster J1-U (gross weight 2644lb) and the ears, and bolts, were exactly the same size as my BC12D. (it does have metal spars, however).

[Nefj40]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

It would be interesting to find out if said inspections ever found any cracks

A year or so ago I finished the re-cover of a 1958 Auster J1-U (gross weight 2644lb) and the ears, and bolts, were exactly the same size as my BC12D. (it does have metal spars, however).

Oh, I think I just fell in love. Beautiful aircraft there.

[PA1195]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I've read there was an Auster T.7 modified by Marshalls of Cambridge as an MA.4, that had a variety of leading edge cuff designs and boundary layer management tested. It's mentioned and described here: http://papers.sae.org/670245/ See page Fig. 6 on p. 1162 in the paper's preview function on the linked Webpage.

Have you seen this plane or the cuff? The goal was to reduce boundary layer separation at the wing's leading edge similar to what current VG's claim to accomplish.

Edit: further reading indicates that the plane was lost during the experiments so I doubt it's been examined since.

[M Towsley]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Well, Rob, it would be even more interesting to not inspect and be the first to wish one had.

[N96337]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Not only are you looking for cracks in the plates, you're looking for crack indications in the spars as well as any sign of looseness in the fitting...the first sign of a problem. You can't go to the end of the wing and wiggle it and tell if anything's loose at the other end until there's way more than an "indication" of a problem. Anyone who doesn't inspect the end areas of the spar isn't much of an inspector!! Like Marty says..." it would be even more interesting to not inspect and be the first to wish one had". As far as has anyone found cracks in the plates, I'm not sure...but there's sure been plenty of spars and fittings showing signs of problems that have been found over the years!
John

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I'm just the messenger!

The Auster was derived from the Taylorcraft and was a military and certified civilian aircraft. Whether fabric fairings are right or wrong I don't know (or care, to be honest).

[astjp2]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I flew my airplane for 7 years without wing root faring's, just noisier in the cockpit. Tim

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

While cleaning out my workshop today, I found a pair of old gap seals. They have the right kind of tightening screws, so they might fit. I won't know till tomorrow afternoon.

[astjp2]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Take pictures, they are as valuable as drawings....to be used to make new ones. Tim

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

If this is about the long threaded slotted screws, I think it was Tim Hicks who sent me a pair, but thanks to whomsoever did.

If I were redesigning them, I'd rather have them Phillips or Hex ended (for better purchase through the hole in the T/E).

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Duplicate

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I brought home about 8 or 10 of them and will lay them out for photos with a long 2 yard stick. Wish I had photographed the process that finally worked. Maybe I can describe the steps but I ended up with nice tight bands. Some of these do have the fittings to tighten them too. I used a high strength socket head screw on mine and it works great.

Hank

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I just got back home from running two "Mercy missions" today. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll try what I have for fit, and report back to you guys.

[tcraft759]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I have about 30 of the screws left. They're AN515-6-64...... $5.00 for a pair with Certificate of Conformance.

Helen