1 degree wing angle removal

[redbowen]

Has anyone successfully removed the 1 degree wing sweep without replacing the front spar? Just planning ahead for future experimentation. All input welcome.

[AirFox]

Hi Bryan,

Give John a call at Kitfox. He will give you a straight answer.

Scott

[n85ae]

Somebody was making 4130 cuffs (exterior sleeves) at one time, no reason
that couldn't be done. They slide over the spar, and are riveted to the spar,
with the bolt going through the correct located hole in the 4130. you would
have and oblong hole in the underlying 6061 spar, but it would be fine as far
I can see. You could also over

Jeff

[redbowen]

I was thinking of a sleeve, do you know if this is a proven idea?

[DesertFox4]

I beleive Murle Williams has done this in the past with success. If I recall correctly it was with a set of stainless sleeves that I think went inside the spars and allowed for drilling new holes top and bottom. Not sure if this is even available from Murle anymore.

You could check with John McBean and see if he has this or better solution.

[jiott]

How about removing the existing (by drilling out the rivets) steel spar reinforcement plates, make new ones to match the old rivet holes but with a properly relocated spar pin hole-top and bottom. I don't believe the resulting oblong pin hole in the aluminum would be a significant strength issue. If worried about that, make the new steel reinforcement plates a little thicker.

[bumsteer]

I asked John about TIG welding the holes closed and redrilling. He did not like that idea. The sleeve solution sounds like it has merit.

Rick

[HighWing]

There was a lengthy discussion relating to this many years ago - long before the wing sweep idea first surfaced. Basically the conclusion was that forces on the front spar during flight were compressive. Meaning aerodynamic forces in flight tended to move the wing forward. The comment was made that if the Clevis bolt somehow fell out, the wing would not fold back. I mention this only to suggest that any failure mode from a modification, according to those conclusions, would be a slippage back to the wing sweep position which would create a CG issue rather than a catastrophic wing failure. I can't even imagine that happening with a closely fitted cuff, Hysol, and rivets.