Low Rider AC mods

Countach

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
98
Location
Bismarck,ND
Aircraft
CGS Hawk Arrow/Air Command/Gyrobee
Total Flight Time
50 Gyro,200 Fixed Wing
I have purchased an old AC low boy and would like suggestions on converting it to CLT.I am not sure if I will keep the Subaru EA-81 or go with a 582.I purchased 24'Dragon Wings for it.What I would like is dims on how much to extend keel and mast.Also AC has an AD out for the pumper joystick to be replaced is this mandatory?Any info would help Thanks Jason
 
Hello Jason

Consider the factorys large H/S, Tall mast, extended keel, CLT conversion etc.

Must change to present time theories for stability and safe flight.

These changes are mandatory for your own interest and safety.

Good Luck.
 
Rehan-I appreciate your reponse,but I do not plan on purchasing any items from AC.I enjoy fabrication and find AC's prices ridiculous and their service is something to be desired in the short time I have dealt with them.I am just looking for nominal numbers for lengths and heights over stock.
 
I have had great history with AC in all respects. I fabricated my own CLT conversion and used all the existing materials as much as possible. You can find a few great Air Command CLT conversion threads here if you search for them.

If you can afford to do a tall tail, by all means do it. power on, power out, nothing compares to the handling characteristics.

Keep us posted of your build, we like lots of pictures.
 
I have done alot of upgrades over the years...

New joystick assembly......Nice but nothing was really wrong with the pump handle which I still have.

New shocks......replaced the cushion setup at the mast....I like !

Added Horizontal Stabilizers......when first added I did not really feel any difference.

New redundant mast.......mental improvement

New cluster plates on motor mount.......less holes through the mast.

New longer rear keel.......Made machine longer. Also easier to walk between prop & tail.

Replace rotor head with new improved version......sold old one for half the price of the new one. No need to rebuild old one !

Replaced old plastic tailblock with new aluminum one...nice !

Remember.......this is flying money. Not to be confused with regular money.

Isn't she so sweet ? So easy to get on, so easy to put your feet on the ground. So easy to steer, So easy to fly.

PS I only like to fly when the weather is PERFECT ! Why would I want to fly any other time ?
 

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Thanks Guys-I have the factory low rider and CLT manuals coming from AC.I am sure I will have plenty of questions and will post pics as the rebuild progresses.
 
Count, here are some numbers from My Air Command years: On a no-pod, stripped, inverted-Rotax model, the CG is 5-6" below the thrustline. This is a dangerous amount of HTL, as you have already surmised.

You need to move weights up the move the CG up. The formula for the distance you must move a weight for a given amount of CG movement is

(CG movement)/(weight/gross weight).

Example: You're going to move the pilot's seat (yourself) up. You weigh 200 lb. The machine grosses 600 lb. You need to move the CG up six inches:

6"/(200/600) = 18". You must move the seat up 18" to move the CG up 6".

Certainly switch to a mast that's undrilled at the engine mount/seatback point. This requires new engine mount cluster plates that use bolts that pass outside the tube instead of through it, in a clamp-on arrangement.

Even if you achieve CLT by raising the seat, add a H-stab if your gyro doesn't have one.

I kept the original pump stick but added beefier pivots. The originals, using Oilite bearings through 1/8" aluminum stock, get sloppy quickly.
 
I have done alot of upgrades over the years...

?

That's funny, cuz the Harley mod you did .... it still looks, sounds, runs, NOTHING like a Harley. :boink:
 
Count

It sure would not hurt to use bigger HS than the original Aircommand.

Tony
 
Thanks everyone!!!The machine I am getting has bomb tanks and factory AC Horz.Stabs,Redundant drop mast,Wunderlich prerotator.From the looks of it is in need of alot of TLC,but cannot be as difficult as building my lambo or airplane.
 
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