Large cargo pod

[Jesse]

Hey folks I have been thinking of making a large cargo pod similar to the ones we see on the super cubs and such. I have been working with composite materials for years for an aircraft company and realized i would like to have one of these for the Kit Fox but not thrilled about the $5k they cost, not to mention I have yet to see one for the Kit Fox. Coming from a larger aircraft to the Kit Fox I realized how much miss the extra bagged area i had in the past for camping gear fuel snow boards etc. :)

If there is enough interest i will certainly build cheaply for the Kit Fox group. I already have the materials and just about everything together just need the time. I priced out aluminum vs Fiber Glass vs carbon fiber. I will build the first out of fiber glass because of the cost of messing it up but would like to build it out of carbon fiber eventually. I have a guy that can sell me the carbon at a reasonable rate but not everyone will be able to justify the cost vs weight. Ill keep you guys posted. Thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Something similar adapted to the Kit Fox.

http://forum.bearhawkgroups.com/viewtopic.php?t=199&sid=defa53b1ecfabbc1a14c25076c4114e0

[happiestflying]

We've become interested in a larger cargo pod than the bullet also. I like the idea of carbon fiber but am too cheap I suspect. We were thinking, maybe facetiously, that minimum interior dimensions should be two small bags of golf clubs, which would probably happen more often than camping. Whatever, I'm quite interested in following your fiberglass first build. Checked out your link, am unlikely to need to haul 8' lumber, but love the general look and feel of a larger pod. Low and slow is the game in any case, so if the gear could be slung underneath, then the baggage compartment could be home to the miniature schnauzer. He loves it there now, but we arrive with toothbrushes only.

[wannafly]

This is of definite interest to me. The STC and 5K for the Bearhawk one not so much. I only have a kitfox IV so don't need a overly big one, but a tent, sleeping bag and duffle would be great.

[Esser]

What models do you guys fly?

[happiestflying]

1996 Kitfox IV Speedster. Grove gear. Check out my photo album for a sense of it.

[Paul Z]

Carbon Concepts builds a nice Cargo Pod for the Carbon Cub. https://www.facebook.com/carbonconceptsak/posts/299654670158301

[Paul Z]

Here is a really neat video of the bag Vacuum infusion of the first Utila Pod.

https://video-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xpa1/v/t42.1790-2/11164492_284148878375547_356925019_n.mp4?efg=eyJyb HIiOjUzNCwicmxhIjo1MTJ9&rl=534&vabr=297&oh=425023fc15b82dd4c309bbf6ac211d5b&oe=55E49E8F

[Av8r_Sed]

Paul,
That link for the infusion video doesn't seem to work for me.

[Paul Z]

It is off of their Facebook page, the post is April 18th. https://www.facebook.com/carbonconceptsak?ref=ts&fref=ts

[Av8r_Sed]

Thanks! Found it. A well done infusion can produce optimally strong and light parts. A large Kitfox version would be sweet.

[wannafly]

I found this post from back country pilot. My question would be how much would my Kitfox IV mid strut attachment points hold? They look big and weigh 8 lbs empty but look like they would hold a lot of stuff. What do you think?


https://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/baggage-pods-anyone-17928?p=247913#top

[colospace]

Building a S7 with its huge cargo area, I don't anticipate needing anything external, but those really look cool.

[happiestflying]

Not sure at all about how much the mid-strut attachment points would hold, but I'd rather have balanced cargo pods there than under the belly. Interesting, and I'll have to follow up a bit on these.

[Dorsal]

Building a S7 with its huge cargo area, I don't anticipate needing anything external, but those really look cool.

True but when you put two folding bikes in the baggage area one might still needs room for a back pack or two :)
I currently use the belly pod but those wing pods look pretty handy.

[jrevens]

Not sure at all about how much the mid-strut attachment points would hold, but I'd rather have balanced cargo pods there than under the belly. Interesting, and I'll have to follow up a bit on these.

I don't think that those strut attachment points/fittings are designed for that kind of load on a Kitfox. They are basically there to just stabilize the lift struts & keep them from starting to curve & bend when under compression, so they are really not that strongly attached to either the spar or the struts.

[Esser]

I would say the weak point on that would be the aluminum brackets that the jury strut attaches to the main struts. After that the attach points on the wings. I think the jury struts themselves would be quite strong.