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  1. S

    Stretched Quickie? Q4?

    I was reading up about the history of Rutan's pusher design configuration, from the Variviggen to the VariEze, to the LongEze, to the Cozy / Velocity. It seems like a configuration that had lots of growth potential, going from a 1 person to a 4 person plane. I think the tandem wing setup of...
  2. S

    Match drilling a mount...

    I'm trying to reuse an old titanium rod from a Sonex A for a landing gear on a Sonex B. It's already has a retaining bolt hole in it. Now, I'm trying to install it in a new mount. I haven't found a good way to drill into the mount to ensure that the new hole will be aligned with the old hole...
  3. S

    Car dollies for moving airplanes?

    Hello All, I'm getting ready to move an airplane. Given the space constraints, having the aircraft on castering wheels would be really handy. Also, the current tires are a little shot. Since airplane tires are smaller than car wheels and I've heard that some people modified car dollies to...
  4. S

    Nut plates vs Rivet Nuts?

    Is there a reason to use one or the other? One thought I had was that rivet nuts would leave a small gap since they typically a "proud." However, I've found rivet nuts that can fit in countersunk holes, allowing for a flush mating.
  5. S

    Propulsion Equations

    I'm trying to get a better intuitive feel of the equations that connect thrust to power, especially how diameter comes into play. Below are 3 screen shots from equations I've found throughout the internet. I understand that they are making different assumptions, but after rearranging so that all...
  6. S

    P47 aerodynamics

    I was reading up on the P47. despite its very blunt front, it was supposedly rather "aerodynamic". Apparently there was some relationship between the curvature of the fuselage front lip (surrounding the engine air intake, and the reynolds number. Does anyone know what that relationship is? Can...
  7. S

    Common / Useful Design Metrics for Aircraft Comparison?

    When watching Barnaby Wainfan's videos, he brings up the concept of transportation efficiency (useful payload / Gross weight * Lift/Drag) as a metric to compare aircraft. I wonder what other metrics are used to evaluate different designs. Pure Lift to Drag is a common one as well. I've also seen...
  8. S

    Airfoil shaped fuselages?

    I was reading up about Burnelli's aircraft, many of which had an airfoil shaped fuselage. I'm trying to think about downsides and why they never caught on. Structurally it was more complex than a tube. Where their other reasons why, like aerodynamics? Thanks
  9. S

    Extra holes and how to fill them, or should you fill them?

    Hello All, I've read here at HBA that you can fill a hole in aluminum pieces with an aluminum solid rivets to recover strength and prevent the hole from becoming a crack source. First question: Is it necessary to fill that is no longer in the load path? In this scenario, I moved a bracket...
  10. S

    Drilling straight holes...

    I'm building a sonex. I have a situation where I am trying to expand a hole from the #40 pilot to 3/16". I drill out to 5/32" with a guide in place. Following the directions (page SNB-W08), I now mate another piece of aluminum angle, which now prevents me from using the drill guide. The surfaces...
  11. S

    Noise reduction methods

    I've been reading about articles about how for delivery drones and EVTOLs to see widespread use, they need to address how noisy they are. Trying to think of ways to make them quieter. Reducing propeller speed is probably the biggest. I would imagine that would mean more blades for a given...
  12. S

    DARPA Research Announcement for Platform Design Optimization Leveraging Power Beaming

    Hi All, Found this call for proposal to look at how design methods might change as a result of using beamed power. Text of announcement is below. I always like hearing how a new tech might change the design process. The range and endurance equations will obviously have to be modified. What other...
  13. S

    BD4 Performance specs

    I've started looking for the next kit, and came across the BD4C. It seems to have really good numbers, even if it wasn't a 60 year old design I'm trying to understand what the reasoning is. It's got a higher wing loading than an RV-10, yet still lands and takeoff in comporable distances...
  14. S

    Substitute phenolic with delrin?

    Not sure if this is the best subforum, but here it goes! I have a rudder pedal mount that I need to fabricate. The rudder pedal rotates between two peices bolted together. Plans call for fabricating it our of phenolic, but I want to use delrin instead because: I have some lying around Aircraft...
  15. S

    Thin sheet hole matching

    Hi All, Here's my scenario: I'm trying to match drill a thin sheet of aluminum (0.03) that is already at final hole size. The holes are on the top piece. If the top piece was thicker, I could use a hole transfer punch if the material was thicker (like 1/8"), but at 0.03", it's too thin and...
  16. S

    Backside rivet removal?

    I have a situation where I have easier access to the backside of the countersink Pop steel rivet than the blind side and want to remove it. Any suggestions? I think I need to first remove the mandrel somehow, then the expanded part, before I’m able to tap out the rivet. Surely someone has to...
  17. S

    Surface cracks in bent aluminum 6061-T6

    Hello All, I bent some 1/8" aluminum angle (closing the 90 degree to something smaller) and noticed some cracking on the surface, using a vise to squeeze the ends together. It's a relatively small bend (from 90 to 86), so was surprised. I redid it to another piece and got the same result. I...
  18. S

    Screws vs Rivets

    I overdrilled a rivet hole and tech support suggested I use a screw instead of a larger sized rivet. I'm trying to understand why that would be the case. Wouldn't you want to replace the rivet with a larger rivet? While the screw would support higher shear loads, the screw would only be loaded...
  19. S

    Firewall Forward max weight reasoning?

    I’m trying to understand what drives the maximum firewall forward weight. Since the Engine is cantilevered, I am assuming that one component is simply the stress on the engine mount. If this is the case, then an airframe max g could be derated. Another factor is elevator control authority. This...
  20. S

    Do extrusions (non cut side) need to be polished?

    I was reading through the Zenith construction standards and there was a mention of the need to remove all cutting marks as they may be stress risers. That makes sense to me. I wouldn't consider extrusion surfaces to be smooth. They often have lines that show the direction of extrusion. Do these...
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