Danny,

1.        The outback gear retrofit kit used to run about $1700 (substantially less if you ordered it with the kit as the outback parts substituted for the standard parts). In addition to the obvious gear components, it also replaces the gear doors and flap actuating mechanism, as the larger tires would interfere with the flap mechanism on the standard kit.  The outback flaps are actuated by a torque tube which requires a reinforced inboard rib on each flap.  You’d probably have to cut into each flap to add the reinforcement and the nutplates to hold a bracket in place.  Also, the flap actuator mounts in a different place in the baggage compartment, so if the tunnel that hides the elevator pushrod isn’t already wide enough to house the flap actuator, you get to modify that also.

2.       The stress points on the standard (parallelogram)  and forward hinged canopy are completely different.  The standard canopy has thicker side rails than the forward hinged canopy, but the forward-hinged canopy has a ton of carbon fiber reinforcement at the front.  You’d have to rebuild at least part of the side rails to allow for the gas struts that support the canopy when it’s open.  The majority of the Legacy style latch mechanism goes behind the seats, so you’ll need to make sure there’s no interference there.  Oh yeah, there are about $500 in parts (prices from about 2001) for the forward hinge canopy and latch mechanism.  Also, the Legacy canopy has a much improved sealing surface than the LNC2 kit.

3.       Haven’t had to do that one.

Gary Fitzgerald

LNC2 ~70%

Engine: TBD

St. Charles, MO

Since my latest effort to buy a finished 360 fell apart at the last minute I'm now searching again.  And it was oohhh sooo close to being mine.  Oh well.  I see several possibilities on the market but nothing that fits all of my wants and needs so here are a some questions.

1. My understanding of the standard gear is that the weak link is two-fold; weak structure and tires with a max load of only 500 lbs.  In my engineering mind, if one loads three tires to max loading of 500 lbs each, that's a max weight of only 1,500 lbs.  I know many are flying at higher weights.  Are your tires wearing out faster?  Have you blown a tire?  Whats' the cost of an Outback retrofit, are the parts available and how long would it take?

2. What's the cost & time required to retrofit a Lagacy-type forward hinge and latch conopy on a 320/360?

3. What's the cost and time required to retrofit a short engine mount with a long one?

I think these are the main items I'm finding with those on the market that I'd have to change.  I'd appreciate any help here so I can consider the pursuit of other 320/360 models without these elements.

Danny
(In search of a decent LNC2)

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