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How many are aware of this sort of incident? The Skybolt I had was built for the O-540 and the truss and landing gear was a bit beefier from the start with heavier wall thickness and larger tubing diameter, and has taken some good bounces, especially with the ferry pilot, before he got the hang of it. However the plans for the Skybolt depict 1 1/8 X .049. This is for a light built four cylinder Lycoming powered Skybolt IE: 1000# to 1100# Empty, and in my opinion a bit under what should be used.
The Starduster by mild contrast uses 1" X .058, and I have personally replaced at least six of these trusses over the yrs and am aware of at least another half dozen that have failed, some with disastrous consequences. Most of the 540 powered airplanes that weigh 1400# or more empty should in my opinion be at least 1 1/8 X .065, and even with and IO-360 and C/S Hartzell and an empty weight between 1200# and 1300# empty should have about the same. Just my take.
You Radial Skybolt builders Jerry what are you doing, and what do the plans say about the bungee truss for the round power airplanes?
Randy, Kevin or Sizmo please chime in as you guys are the ones that would know? Dave
The Starduster by mild contrast uses 1" X .058, and I have personally replaced at least six of these trusses over the yrs and am aware of at least another half dozen that have failed, some with disastrous consequences. Most of the 540 powered airplanes that weigh 1400# or more empty should in my opinion be at least 1 1/8 X .065, and even with and IO-360 and C/S Hartzell and an empty weight between 1200# and 1300# empty should have about the same. Just my take.
You Radial Skybolt builders Jerry what are you doing, and what do the plans say about the bungee truss for the round power airplanes?
Randy, Kevin or Sizmo please chime in as you guys are the ones that would know? Dave
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