Landing Gear

[roger]

Does anyone have any information or expericence about modifying a Piper type landing gear with the bungee suspension to that of a Cessna type gear with the spring steel gear.  I have a Wagabond which has the Piper type gear and as I have never been particularly happy with this type of gear, including the periodic changing of the bungee cords, I thought now would be a good time to make a change.

My thoughts are to develop a sub-frame in whch the spring steel gear would be secured and then attach this sub frame to the mounting posts on the existing aircraft frame.  The sub-frame would actually be located below but as tight as possible to the fuselage and would utilize all 4 posts from which the old gear was attached.

Prior to actually purchasing some used Cessna or some other similar gear, I thought this might be a good place to tap into resources.

[irishfield]

email me at oifa AT irishfield.on.ca  I have some pictures of tow plane supercubs modified for spring gear, but you have to go one piece from Groves to do it.

Personally I think going "leaf" gear is a step backwards though from the piper style.... I'd just throw the bungee struts away and make them die spring struts and never change a bungee again.

Wayne

[Snowflake]

I agree with Wayne on both ideas.  For spring steel, you'll want to go to a one-piece setup, not two separate leafs.  But the simpler solution, as he says, is to replace the bungees with springs.