KR2 Builders,
I just got my landing gear from Grove Aircraft and also bought their
mounting brackets. When I put the mounting bracket up to the main center
spar, I could immediately see a problem. Per the instructions supplied, the
bolts to attach the bracket are to go thru the center of the spar caps.
Needless to say, the AS5048 wing center spar is one inch taller than the
plans KR2 and that made the landing bracket mounting plate too short, so
there was no way to drill bolt holes thru it and the center of the spar cap.
I called Grove and it looks like my best alternative is to open up the
backside of the spar and insert vertical 2" x 1 7/8" pieces of wood between
the spar caps that the bolts can go thru. In some ways this has some
advantages. I will not be drilling through the spar caps and I can use a
stronger wood than spruce which will be more crush resistant. Otherwise,
Grove said they would have to design a new bracket and that would be a
one-of-a-kind. The metal is laser cut, and they do a nice welding job. SO
the lesson here is if you are going to use the new wing airfoil and buy your
brackets from someone like Grove Aircraft, insert the additional wood pieces
into the center spar before closing up with plywood.
Bernie
KR2S Builder
Lexington Park, MD
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/n2w6
