B7 ?

[a1frankie]

Was the B7 built with with round tubing? Are they as safe as the square tube? Any one know why they were discontinued, maybe assembly probs?

[Doug Riley]

Yes, it was. The structure was rather similar to the original Air Command of the 1980's.

There's nothing structurally wrong with round tubing. It is more trouble to assemble using the drill-and-bolt method. It's not as efficient a shape as square for beams that are being bent in a particular direction, so it should be triangulated. A fully triangulated structure of round tubing will weigh less than a collection of beams made from square tubing to carry the same load.

One nice thing about the B-7 was that it was designed with an ample horizontal stabilizer. The B-8 was inferior in that respect.

[Adam H]

Are you asking about the B7 because you are considering building one from the plans sold by Vortech?

[a1frankie]

I bought a B8 and an in the box and unstarted B8 kit. When I started inventory there was a mostly complete B7 in the box also. No stabs or rudders on any of them, no wheels on the two kits.