Landing gear choices...

[jmodguy]

Steve
I have a couple questions in to the factory. With the 340 up front, weight will be a major deciding factor.
I finally finished my panel and have the rest of the engine electronics ready to go in. Headed to the airport today to figure out where everything will go.
I need to get my AP servos so I can get them installed. Will get them next week. After they are in, I should be ready to start covering the fuselage.
The fuel system for my EFII won't work with a 1 gal header so I won't be using a header tank. Gotta run return lines back to both tanks and use a duplex valve.
I was able to sell my Rotax FWF and Kitfox worked with me on piecing together a FWF for my 340. For that I was very grateful. Didn't need everything in the 233 FWF kit. I picked up a set of lift strut fairings too.
At this point is is really just time to start putting things together!

[DesertFox4]

Thanks for the update Jeff. Keep after it.

[jmodguy]

After conferring with other people that like to spend my $$ and the folks at Kitfox I have decided to go with the cabane style gear. I do have a question in to Debra about the STi gear tho...
The cabane gear has 3 inches over the Grove style gear. Might need it for prop clearance.

[DesertFox4]

With your engine that makes sense Jeff and you get that retro look too.

[jmodguy]

I have contacted John Roberts at AVWeld and I think he has a pretty elegant solution. Cabane gear with a gas strut that is adjustable! He also uses the spring gear mounts for the forward mount. Price is pretty reasonable too for a shock absorber cabane gear. Here is a couple pics he sent.

[jiott]

The cabane gear looks nice and the shocks would feel nice, but I really doubt that any of it is a strong as the Grove gear. The Grove is about as indestructible as you will ever find, and if you do bend it (it almost never breaks) just send it back to Grove and they can straighten it and reheat treat it.

[jmodguy]

jiott
I understand the loyalty to the Grove gear but drop tests really don't prove the strength of a landing gear. Landing stresses are not a direct upward force. There is a rearward vector force that gets added into the equation. I am not a math geek but the Vans nose gear is a perfect example of this. there's a youtube video that shows a very light (~200 lbs) vector force is all it takes to bend a Vans nose gear enough to throw these planes on their backs. See antisplat.
It would definitely be interesting to do some actual tests to compare the Grove vs cabane gear vector forces but that would require the sacrifice of a few fuselages. We both know that probably won't happen...
That said, the cabane gear is a few inches taller so I am going that route.
Regards
Jeff