Dear Jan,
Could I suggest that you visit some gliding clubs and look at the trailers
which they find successful.
Here in Australia the trailers which have a lift up top half tend to shake
apart on corrugated roads, but may be better in Europe. They certainly give
good access to the glider inside. I only know of one trailer where the
sides open to allow the wings to be lifted out and rotated to mate onto the
fuselage. Usually the wings are mounted on dollies which roll out the rear
end of the trailer.
Gliders do not seem to jiggle about on the fuselage cradle, although
supplementary support is usual and varied. Most seem to use a nose cone,
fuselage tail hold down strap and the fin sits in a slot, but the nose cone
support would not suit a Europa. Some use the wing mounting points to fit a
supporting cradle which runs in tracks in the roof of the trailer while a
few fit the fuselage onto a full length frame which then wheels into the
trailer. One simpler system which I have seen involves using the wing
mounting points to attach the fuselage to the cradle which is then locked
onto the floor. Perhaps I could add that glider wing mounting points seem
sturdier than the Europa ones, considering the relative weights.
Consequently you may prefer to attach the dolly to a (padded) beam passed
through the wing root opening in the fuselage.
A fold out ramp with tracks for the fuselage cradle is very successful,
especially if it has a jacking system to allow the wheel to be retracted.
The ramp is often part of a fold down rear door. This system should remove
the need for a winch as the ramp slope can then be quite gentle. To remove
the glider, the wheel is locked down and the glider wheel is then lowered
onto the ground. I can get more details of this if it would help.
Regards,
John Anselmi.
Jan de Jong wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> The die has been cast. I have promised to take possession of 1 complete
> Europa XS Monowheel kit sometime during this year 2000.
>
> I foresee a lot of logistic opportunities and have been thinking hard
> about acquiring a covered trailer of some kind first. I want to use it
> for:
> - transporting the kit from Kirbymoorside to Holland
> - storing the (partial) kit - indoors somewhere, outside if need be
> - storing the completed aircraft - indoors somewhere, outside if need be
>
> - transporting the completed aircraft to and from the airfield
> I would like the trailer to be as short, low and light as possible - a
> length of 6.1 m and a height of 2.1 m are critical; above these and all
> regular Dutch garages are out; a removable boom(?) would help keep the
> trailer short, but then gross weight must be small enough (750 kg is the
> legal limit) to allow no brakes.
> I realise that glider wings will not fit in a 6.1 m long trailer. Can't
> have everything.
> But I would like a side door to accommodate filling her up at the gas
> station.
> I hope some of you have acted on similar considerations and are willing
> to advise.
>
> Some thoughts on options:
>
> 1. covered factory trailer
> - no dolly
> - the trailer is lightweight and not very rigid; floor and cover would
> have to be very lightweight; the floor could accommodate flexibility;
> the cover would probably have to be rigid and self supporting, resting
> on 3 trailer points; with a 3 m long unsupported roof overhang at the
> back with hinged hanging doors that must fit and close; the removable
> floor behind the axle is suspended from the roof overhang too
> - seems not practical
>
> 2. covered trailer and aircraft on dolly
> - the dolly supports all or some of the (mainwheel) weight of the
> aircraft; the dolly can be used for shop work as well (including work on
> the main wheel)
> - the trailer has fixtures to receive and immobilise dolly + (partially)
> lifted aircraft
> - damage in transport seems likely, unless there is a failsafe way to
> immovably join dolly and aircraft (the only bouncing allowed would be
> that of the trailer on the road)
> - is there such a way?
> - is a winch a necessity? does it depend on ramp slope?
>
> 3. covered trailer, dolly for on/off only
> - the dolly keeps the aircraft upright while the aircraft is being
> wheeled on/off the trailer
> - the trailer has dedicated fixtures to receive the fuselage and keep
> the aircraft upright and in place (see factory trailer; some bouncing of
> the aircraft on the trailer allowed)
> - the dolly must be designed not to be in the way and to be easily
> positioned/raised and lowered/removed while it is in the narrow bowels
> of the trailer
> - the dolly does not need to lift the aircraft very much; any lifting
> option would be for shop work use only
> - can this be made to work smoothly?
> - would a combination on/off and shop dolly be practical?
> - is a winch a necessity? does it depend on ramp slope?
>
> The dolly question is bothering me most; it is the crucial item; what
> exactly should it be designed for?
> Comments, opinions, especially experiences?
>
> Thanks.
> Jan de Jong
>
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