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Gary asks:
<<
I would be very interested in obtaining source information for the titanium
components. Also, which AN components were replaced with titanium?>>
All the Lancair specific components (hinges, spar bolts, brackets etc) I
machined from raw stock. Working with Ti is slow and painful and you have
to know what you are doing. I recently built a titanium tail wheel assembly
for Greg Poe's Edge 540 (part of his sponsorship). It saved over three pounds
but would have cost him over $5K if he had to buy it. Before and After shots
are below.
The AN replacement bolts I had laying around. "LAYING AROUND?!?!?!" you say.
Yep , back in the '80s I started a robotics company and several of the telemanipulators
we built were titanium (they were used on oceanographic research vessels
like the "Alvin"). Every time one would come back to the shop for overhaul
we would replace every fastener. Consequently I had buckets of NAS-640x-xx
titanium hex bolts. Alas, I sold the company shortly after building the airplane
so no more bolts :-( .
BUT there are often titanium bolts on ebay (a search turned up 25 listings).
Be prepared to spend $$$$$$s. Figure a buck a piece SURPLUS and $3-$10 each
new with certs. If I had to actually pay for the bolts I never would have
used them, but then I am a cheap SOB.
You can save pounds for pennies by replacing the nylon stop nuts and steal
washers with MS21042 nuts and AN960PD-xx aluminum washers. I know
it is only grams but you use hundreds of them and it DOES add up. Do use
your brain, not every steel washer can be replaced with aluminum.
Compliments of the season,
Brent Regan
Tail Wheel TI.JPG
Before LR.jpg
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