Tie Down Rings

[DannyDot]

I don't have tie down rings where the forward strut attaches to the wing. The cover has slots for the rings, but no rings to go through the slots. Does anyone know where to get tie down rings?

Danny

[M Towsley]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Danny,

PM me, please.

Marty

[Guest]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Dan,

Tie around the strut, if you add tie down rings to the strut use them only as a means to keep the rope in one place.

In other words put the rope thru the ring, around the strut and then tie to back to the rope that went thru the ring (rope only goes thru the ring once and then around the strut).

Do not rely on the rings to hold the plane down, they are aluminum and break. I had it happen and lost a plane from it. I was told in advance and did not believe.

Dave

[VictorBravo]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Make up a loop of strong nylon webbing, put it around the top of the strut where it narrows to the fitting, tie it securely, and then tuck the rest of it inside that slot in the fairing. When you have to tie down the plane, pull the loop out of the slot and attach your tiedown rope or airport chain to that loop.

Advantages:
Cheapest
Strongest
Lowest drag
Lowest weight
Nothing to scratch your strut
Easy to remove/replace when needed
Has a little "give" instead of shock-loading the structure in gusts

Disadvantage:
Requires a little wire hook or screwdriver to fish the loop out of the slot when you are ready to tie down

[Pearson]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Danny,

There is a style of tie down that appears to be what the slot in your fairing is intended for. I have this style on my airplane, but I don't seem to have any pictures of it. I am not sure where I got them, but it may have been from Greg Guy on this forum.

They are made of STEEL. They are constructed with a small plate about one by two inches that fits in the channel of the strut attach fitting. You remove the strut attach bolt, put the tie down in the channel of the fitting, and then put the bolt back through the tie down, attach fitting, and strut. A "U" shaped piece of 1/4" rod sticks out through the slot in your fairing.

I suggest you try to contact Greg Guy. I think he knew a fellow that made them. If you have no success, let me know and I can take the camera to the airport so you can at least see what I am talking about.

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Kinda looks like this: These are steel.

[Guest]

Re: Tie Down Rings

The ones in the picture above are different and better than the ones I am referring to.

The ones I am thinking of have a streamlined clamp that goes around the strut and has an aluminum ring that bolts to the clamp.

Dave

[Ron Greene]

Re: Tie Down Rings

I found these in the original packing cleaning out an old friends hangar.

Made by La Tour Aeronautical Sales, Chicago, IL says will fit Taylor A-B.

Inside of streamline clamp is stamped Taylor A-B also.

[T.Taylor]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Kinda looks like this: These are steel.

Those look like what was on a J-3 I once owned, now the TCraft has the LaTour things, but like most others, I don't tie to them, T.T.

[Pearson]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Howard Wilsons pictures are what I have on my plane. They work great!

[astjp2]

Re: Tie Down Rings

Just make them like what Howard has, your a&p can get them approved IAW 21.303b2, owner produced part if you are worried about paper work, if not, 1/4" 4130 round stock and 1/8" X 3/4" strap and weld, drill and grind to fit. You can modify a super cub one to fit also. Tim