Lift Strut Fairing

[Floog]

I think if you 'unzip' the trailing edge of the strut fairing, it should peel right off of the hysol because the bond is very weak on the PVC.. Getting the hysol off of the strut itself would be the challenge. At any rate, it would be a lot of work to remove and replace. One would have to re-join the strut fairing intersection as well.

[Tomfox]

Sooo - I am getting ready to install these fairings on my SS7 that has just been completed. Seeing this issue coming, I plan to only spot bond the fairings - probably four places - so that if I have to remove them I won't have such a big issue. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Tom Livermore
N316DA - SS7 Supersport Rotax 912ULS

[jrevens]

Sooo - I am getting ready to install these fairings on my SS7 that has just been completed. Seeing this issue coming, I plan to only spot bond the fairings - probably four places - so that if I have to remove them I won't have such a big issue. Any thoughts?

Thanks
Tom Livermore
N316DA - SS7 Supersport Rotax 912ULS

I don't know if Tom ever got an answer to his question, but I would like to ask it again for myself. Using the factory plastic fairings, are most builders now only bonding in a few spots along the strut, and are they applying Hysol to both top & bottom contact surfaces? Do you bond the trailing edges also, or just rely on the "zipper"?

[Floog]

I 'stitched' Hysol into the PVC strut 'pocket'. No adhesive on the trailing edge 'zipper'..The Hysol bonds very well to the strut. It really doesn't matter about the weak bond to the PVC fairing. The fairing is locked in place within the 'pocket' when the Hysol sets up and the trailing edge is 'zipped' up. In other words, the fairing can't turn on the strut because of the way it is extruded. After almost 1,000 hrs. of abuse, nothing has come loose or fallen off Hope this helps, John.

[jiott]

I bonded both top & bottom surfaces with a very light bead full length; I am sure this was overkill. I did not bond the trailing edge zipper; it seems to be quite strong, especially with the top & bottom surfaces bonded.

[Floog]

Hey, Jim what are you doing up so late? Had a good flight with Scott today. We met in the Dalles. Hope all is well!

BTW, I forgot to mention, I also used Hysol on both top and bottom surfaces of the PVC pocket.

[jiott]

Yes Floog all is well. Finished my annual a week ago and had one good 3 hour test flight. I thought about going out yesterday, but too many black snow clouds drifting around.

I always hope to see you chime in on these build questions. You did such a beautiful job on your SS7 I think your opinions carry a lot of weight.

[Floog]

Thanks for the kudos, Jim. Just flew across the Cascades for the NW Trade show in Puyallup tomorrow and Sunday. Should be a fun experience!