Message text written by "F X Connell"
>How do you raise safely a monowheel in a remote region and remove the
wheel
without carrying a heavy set of specialised tools dedicated to that
particular task?<
I know David Watts has done this with little difficulty. I am sure he will
give all the details if he reads this. By the way, this information was
published in the Europa Flyer so if you are not already a member of the
Europa Club you might like to consider joining. I used the same technique
described below to lift the aircraft to enable gear/flap retraction tests
for the final inspection.
All that is needed to raise the mainwheel off the ground is a support just
aft of the mainwheel aperture. In the controlled environment of a hangar or
workshop a padded trestle made from 4"x2" timber is all that is required.
In the landaway case some blocks padded by clothing will suffice. The
height is chosen so as to just lift the wheel clear of the ground. With 2
people a tailplane is removed, the tail elevated, the trestle positioned
and tail lowered. A little extra weight on the tail keeps the C of G aft of
the trestle. If 3 people are available it is not necessary to remove a
tailplane as the tail can be lifted with the tailwheel spring and the third
person at a wingtip prevents any roll until the aircraft is settled on the
trestle.
Nigel Charles
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