wing to fuselage gap strips

[taylorcraftbc65]

Hey guys, I have been slowly getting the T-craft in compliance with the FAA AD's, as well as finishing up on our house here, and the moment of truth for the plane has almost arrived. Problem IS, that with all that has been going on, I CAN'T FIND the two metal strips that bridge the gaps between the wings and fuselage. A friend of mine thinks that he may have them, but I won't know for sure for another month. Will that thing fly the pattern around our private airstrip without them on?
Brie

[ricky]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

the ideal of the root fairing is to allow static to the speed instrument,thus with wind going by between the fuesledge an the wing,you could do damage to fabric,wind going into wing also.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

With all the AD's, and other junk for this thing have cost me, I'm going to stik the engine on an airboat, and use the plane for a tetrahedron. I've had it since just before all the wing strut stupidity, and have only managed to fly it for 15 hours because of something it needed. I average 50 hours a month in my ultralights though. Worst 15 thousand I EVER spent.
Brie

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

With all the AD's, and other junk for this thing have cost me, I'm going to stick the engine on an airboat, and use the plane for a tetrahedron. I've had it since just before all the wing strut stupidity, and have only managed to fly it for 15 hours because of something it needed. I average 50 hours a month in my ultralights though. Worst 15 thousand I EVER spent.
Brie

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I have patterns here for mine but yours will have to be made custom. No two have the exact same wing gaps or fuselage shapes. I finally got mine to fit perfect by making the fit to the fuselage side FIRST and getting it REALLY TIGHT. As it wraps around the leading edge it will go all "squirrely" on you and not be straight. I threw out the first half dozen tries because I couldn't get the top half straight. That is why you see so many planes with two or three piece covers riveted together.
Since it is NOT primary structure I used WIDE Aluminum flashing from Lowe's Aircraft Supply, fitted it to the fuselage (I had lots of patterns) and just let the width of the metal pull tight and BE OFF CENTER! When it was all pulled tight I snapped a line on top and trimmed two triangle pieces off. I now have really nice straight covers. I did have to throw another set away because I didn't get it first try, but the flashing was cheap.
Since I made mine I also got a shrinker stretcher and it is GREAT for working the leading edge a little and swinging the top rear from side to side. Live and learn!

Hank

Don't give up on her. Once you get your T flying right it will become much lower maintenance!

[woodmw]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Brie...where ya gona use an airboat in Salt Flat, TX?

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Next year, we will spend Jan., Feb., and Mar., in Rockport, Texas, and use it to play on the ICW.
Brie

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Next year, we will spend Jan., Feb., and Mar., in Rockport, Texas, and use it to play on the ICW.
Brie

[Pearson]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Hey guys, I have been slowly getting the T-craft in compliance with the FAA AD's, as well as finishing up on our house here, and the moment of truth for the plane has almost arrived. Problem IS, that with all that has been going on, I CAN'T FIND the two metal strips that bridge the gaps between the wings and fuselage. A friend of mine thinks that he may have them, but I won't know for sure for another month. Will that thing fly the pattern around our private airstrip without them on?
Brie

Brie,

I would absolutely NOT fly the plane with open gaps between the wing and fuselage. I have seen two Taylorcraft where the gap was covered with fabric. I don't recall the details, but it looked really nice. I also don't know if it was field approved or not.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

As I remember it works, looks good, is NOT approved and no one seemed to care. I would be SURE to talk to your IA before doing it!

Hank

Agree, DO NOT fly the plane with no gap seal!!!!

[M Towsley]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Hank,

Aren't the wing mounts supposed to be inspected during annual, how can that be done with fabric covering them?

Also, not sure about pre-wars, but how do you tension the wing bands? Flashing would easily bend before much tension could be placed on them with the rear adjustment screw. Or is that a post-war adjustment method?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Seems like the guy who used fabric cut a hole for inspection and then just patched over it. Not how I would have done it, but if his IA approved, who is to say? On my bands I used slightly thicker flashing and used the same tension screw and little brackets as original. Worked fine and the strength of the metal I used was just a bit more than the original (which I thought was a bit too thin frankly, I just removed the rivets, cleaned it up and riveted it to the new band). The old band tore too easily. Even though I had the original tensioner my bands were screwed to the fuselage and root rib which started most of the tears. The tensioner wasn't being used.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

Seems like the guy who used fabric cut a hole for inspection and then just patched over it. Not how I would have done it, but if his IA approved, who is to say? On my bands I used slightly thicker flashing and used the same tension screw and little brackets as original. Worked fine and the strength of the metal I used was just a bit more than the original (which I thought was a bit too thin frankly), I just removed the rivets, cleaned it up and riveted it to the new band. The old band tore really easy. Even though I had the original tensioner my bands were screwed to the fuselage and root rib which started most of the tears. The tensioner wasn't being used.

Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

All Austers (in the USA and the UK and worldwide) have a fabric seal there, and there is no way of inspecting the bolts.

It does beg the question: What is an IA inspecting for (except perhaps corrosion), because the real check is to wiggle the wingtips to check for any wallowing-out of the mounting holes).

The L2 drawings that we all know about include wing root fairings, which might be a useful starting point for paper / cheap aluminium patterns.

Rob

[Guest]

Re: wing to fuselage gap strips

I never take my wing bands off to inspect the wing roots but can see the attach bolts/mounts.

I can see the bolts/mounts from the inside with the headliner out using eyeballs and mirrors.

Probably I cut small openings in the fuselage fabric at the wing root to do this and did it so long ago that I don't recall doing it.

Dave