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Thread: Rear spar finish tape

  1. #1
    Senior Member aviator79's Avatar
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    Default Rear spar finish tape

    Out of curiosity, what is the function of the finish tape along the rear spar? I understand reinforcement along the rear of the fuel tank. Is it cosmetic further outboard than that?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Esser's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    It doesn’t make sense to me. The radius is very large and it doesn’t touch.
    ------------------
    Josh Esser
    Flying SS7
    Rotax 914iS
    AirMaster Prop

    Edmonton, AB, CWL3

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    Mine touched the spar in several places. Probably because of the way I shunk the fabric. I think my fabric is more concave over the rear spar than most I've seen. However, I've seen no wear or adverse performance...

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    If I recall, the build manual suggests putting anti-chaff tape along the top of the rear spar which I did not do.

  5. #5
    Senior Member jrevens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    It seems to be very close to the surface of the spar, and on some examples evidently touches a little. Under flight conditions, I suppose it's possible for the fabric to touch the spar when the wing flexes, etc. Anyway, I think it's pretty standard practice to add finish tape sometimes when the clearances between fabric and structure are real small, and the possibility of contact under certain conditions exists. In this instance I kind of like the tape there because of the relatively large unsupported areas and the fact that the wings do flex. That's just my opinion.
    John Evens
    Arvada, CO
    Kitfox SS7 N27JE
    EAA Lifetime
    Chap. 43 honorary Lifetime

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    I ran tape along the length of the spar, definitely required in the tank area, more for cosmetics outboard of that. Didn’t add anti chafe tape.
    David
    SS7 Builder

  7. #7
    Senior Member HighWing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    That tape has been in the manual since the Dan Denney days. Then, the fabric was the light weight uncertified fabric and maybe there was more movement of the fabric in the prop wash and slightly beyond. I did it on both planes and no regrets.
    Lowell Fitt
    Goodyear, AZ


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  8. #8
    Senior Member aviator79's Avatar
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    Quote Originally Posted by HighWing View Post
    That tape has been in the manual since the Dan Denney days. Then, the fabric was the light weight uncertified fabric and maybe there was more movement of the fabric in the prop wash and slightly beyond. I did it on both planes and no regrets.
    I wasn't planning on skipping it, just curious.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    I did it to...👍👍

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Rear spar finish tape

    The wing on bench ,the fabric touch the Spar maybe one inch.. so i think in flight it will be more..

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