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mbcrisp87(at)gmail.com
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 Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:38 am Post subject: Ventral fin |
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I have a '74 traveler and would like to remove the ventral fin that runs along the belly of the tail. I know they got rid of this with the cheetah and tiger and possibly even the '75 traveler. I have never "needed" the fin there and it affects the overall appearance and adds weight and drag. Does anyone have experience removing this or know if there are any issues involved? The rivets can just be drilled out and I could simply put rivets back just to plug the holes. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Matt
On Apr 5, 2012, at 1:44 PM, Gary Vogt <teamgrumman(at)yahoo.com (teamgrumman(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:
[quote]John,
The holes and that end plate are from an early airbox. There used to be a (spring type strap) piece on the back that would center on the original airbox. It's really a stupid idea. It would never work. I'm sure the same lead engineer that approved that design also approved many of the other designs I have listed in my "Dumb Design Decisions" on my web site.
Later airboxes have a more rigid back plate. They are designed a little better. Don't worry about unfiltered air. Carb heat supplies far more unfiltered air than those holes ever will.
There is no way to keep the filter from falling down and fretting on the stop on the airbox door. Gravity and vibration make sure of that. I have glued onto the rear plate on my air filter 2 strips of the double beaded windshield seal. Cut the beads open so they fold over. Fill them full of grease or you'll never get the air filter back out. It fits so snug that you can't believe it. Even with that, the air filter will move down onto the bottom block; probably within the first few hours of operation (my guess).
There is supposed to be a phoney little tab in the corner on the near side. I replaced mine with a stanless steel tube that fits from front-to-back. At least there is more surface area to hold the filter in place.
Speaking of, on my first Cheetah, I returned unused heated to the inlet side of the airbox and blocked off hole on the bottom. I changed it back before I sold the plane. I also installed a PCV valve to see if I could stop oil blowing out the breather. I tried the setup from a 455 Olds since that's what I had. The blow-by was too much for it.
I asked on this venue at some time in the past if anyone had ever tried to install the airbox on a Tiger 180 degrees out just to see if it would fit. I may still do that. That would put the filter door on the top and the excess air being accelerated down the front of the cowling could be used as an inlet. All it takes is time and money.
Gary
From: flyv35b <flyv35b(at)minetfiber.com (flyv35b(at)minetfiber.com)>
To: teamgrumman-list(at)matronics.com (teamgrumman-list(at)matronics.com)
Sent: Thursday, April 5, 2012 7:44 AM
Subject: Re: TeamGrumman-List: My Brakett air filter pie pan has holes
--> TeamGrumman-List message posted by: flyv35b <flyv35b(at)minetfiber.com (flyv35b(at)minetfiber.com)>
On 4/5/2012 7:29 AM, Hosler, John wrote:
[quote] --> TeamGrumman-List message posted by: "Hosler, John"<JHOSLER(at)epri.com (JHOSLER(at)epri.com)>
Cliff:
Thanks!
The design of the air filter holder and the means for containing it
within the air box is perhaps the worst design issue with the Grummans.
A redesign that would hold the filter reliably in the correct (centered
position in the air box) would be very helpful.
Now they just fall to the bottom and fret away.
John
--
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flyv35b(at)minetfiber.com
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:50 am Post subject: Ventral fin |
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On 4/5/2012 12:38 PM, Matthew Crisp wrote:
| Quote: | I have a '74 traveler and would like to remove the ventral fin that runs
along the belly of the tail. I know they got rid of this with the
cheetah and tiger and possibly even the '75 traveler. I have never
"needed" the fin there and it affects the overall appearance and adds
weight and drag. Does anyone have experience removing this or know if
there are any issues involved? The rivets can just be drilled out and I
could simply put rivets back just to plug the holes. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Matt
|
AFAIK it's never been approved and probably couldn't be because of the
different dorsal fin and horizontal tail (spin testing requirements).
I know of one plane that it was probably done illegally on.
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n76lima(at)mindspring.com
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| Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:16 pm Post subject: Ventral fin |
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It is a piece of cake to remove. However getting the FAA to APPROVE the removal is what will be hard. It provides weathercock stability, and affects the spin recovery and resistance. What sort of flight testing will they require? Without the larger stabilizer of the Cheetah/Tiger, you probably can't pass the flight tests. You think American scabbed it on for its good looks? <G>
--Bob Steward
Birmingham, AL
Sent from Samsung mobile
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