A Different Kind Of Strut Question

[taylorcraftbc65]

Hey everyone,
I am going to buy a set of struts from the foundation in April to get around the hassle of messing with the constant inspections.
My question is this. I am building an HM 381L Flying Flea, and they use four short (about 3 feet long) sections of streamlined tubing to mount the moving forward wing. I was thinking about cutting the struts that are on the plane now AFTER I install the new struts.
The problem is this. I'm not sure that these struts are not perfectly serviceable, and if they are, it would be a shame to cut them up. I WOULD cut them IF the bottom six inches were compromised, that way the good sections could still fly on a different plane.
If it turns out that the struts are good, WHERE can I get 4130 streamlined tubing? It has been years since I built an experimental from the ground up, and I forget who the suppliers are. Brie

[Buell Powell]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

Bri,
You might call Tom @ Wag Aero or Scott @ the factory. I think both the factory and Wag Aero have said they have to cut some waste strut materials from the lenghts. They may have some sections as short as you need-Anyway might be worth a try.
Buell

[Guest]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

Wicks Aircraft Supply

Univair

Aircraft Spruce

Dillsburg Aeroworks

[VictorBravo]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

There have been a few people who have posted a request for everyone to NOT cut up their old struts, for one or two different reasons. Check that out before you do any cutting.

Also, I don't think Mr. Mignet would mind if you used the aluminum stuff from Aircraft Spruce, and the Taylorcraft material may be too big or too heavy for that use anyway.

And I thought the CH701 project I wanted to do was ugly... but I have to admit the Flea's got the trophy!

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

It might be ugly to some Bill, but my single seat HM-293 will blow the doors off the CH701 in a STOL competition, and that's with a 42 HP motor.
The HM-381L is a two seat cabin with two doors. It is powered by a C-90 engine. Brie

[1938BF50]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

Brie,

PM me.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

I PM'd you, didn't it go through? NICE looking fuselage. Brie

[Forrest Barber]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

Dillsburg, Dillsburg, or e-mail me direct with sizes, If you recall Frank Easton was the Le Pou De Ciel ( sp?) ; the Flying Flea dealer back in 1937 here just East of Alliance, his Flea is in the EAA museumn now , the same one I "taxied". My father let me taxi one and I got it up a wee bit, never higher than I wanted to fall. These new control wings are VERY interesting , I will follow your project.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: A Different Kind Of Strut Question

Several guys didn't get the word in time and already cut their struts. Should be pretty easy to get some of that material cut to length for you and at those lengths should be fairly inexpensive to ship. Let me know if no one has any and I will look at the stuff I have. Seems like I have one in the barn that was bent pretty bad. Might be enough for what you need.
Hank

PS
Be kind of neat to think an old strut might get back in the air again.