gyropilot
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Hi all,
I'm trying to alleviate the lack of any storage capability on my gyro... which is sorely needed for the longer cross country flying I want to do this year.
What I have in mind as a possible solution are two cylindrical shaped compartments... one on either side of the engine mount... oriented horizontally and lengthwise with the airframe axis. They would mount approx. even with the bottom of the engine. This location seems a good compromise between space available and not lowering the vertical CG.
Ideally, these cylindrical storage compartments would be approx. 8" x 18-20", have rounded or bullet shaped ends for a lower drag profile, and have a lid or door to load from the side or top... although I could live with loading from end if need be.
Picture one of those cylindrical spun aluminum dune buggy tanks and you'll have an idea of what I'm after. Of course I want these storage compartments to be as light as possible, so I guess I'm looking for something thin, made of aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic.
I'm not sure how much they weigh, but I would imagine spun aluminum dune buggy tanks are unnecessarily thick and heavy for what I want... although I won't rule them out. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about:
Having a couple of spun aluminum storage compartments ("tanks" if you will) custom made would cost a fortune, so I'd rather exhaust all the alternatives before I try that route. It would be nice to find something off-the-shelf to modify (by adding an access door and building mounts), but as a last resort I suppose I could look into make something out of fiberglass cloth and resin over a foam core (later dissolved).
Someone once suggested I look into plastic sewer pipe... and I intend to do that this weekend... but my first thought is most plastic pipe I've seen in diameters that large is pretty thick walled, not to mention I'd wind up with flat end caps.
I'm hoping someone out there might be able to give me some ideas as to where I might look for something similar to modify.
Thanks in advance,
John L.
Shoreline, WA
I'm trying to alleviate the lack of any storage capability on my gyro... which is sorely needed for the longer cross country flying I want to do this year.
What I have in mind as a possible solution are two cylindrical shaped compartments... one on either side of the engine mount... oriented horizontally and lengthwise with the airframe axis. They would mount approx. even with the bottom of the engine. This location seems a good compromise between space available and not lowering the vertical CG.
Ideally, these cylindrical storage compartments would be approx. 8" x 18-20", have rounded or bullet shaped ends for a lower drag profile, and have a lid or door to load from the side or top... although I could live with loading from end if need be.
Picture one of those cylindrical spun aluminum dune buggy tanks and you'll have an idea of what I'm after. Of course I want these storage compartments to be as light as possible, so I guess I'm looking for something thin, made of aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic.
I'm not sure how much they weigh, but I would imagine spun aluminum dune buggy tanks are unnecessarily thick and heavy for what I want... although I won't rule them out. Here's a picture of what I'm talking about:
Having a couple of spun aluminum storage compartments ("tanks" if you will) custom made would cost a fortune, so I'd rather exhaust all the alternatives before I try that route. It would be nice to find something off-the-shelf to modify (by adding an access door and building mounts), but as a last resort I suppose I could look into make something out of fiberglass cloth and resin over a foam core (later dissolved).
Someone once suggested I look into plastic sewer pipe... and I intend to do that this weekend... but my first thought is most plastic pipe I've seen in diameters that large is pretty thick walled, not to mention I'd wind up with flat end caps.
I'm hoping someone out there might be able to give me some ideas as to where I might look for something similar to modify.
Thanks in advance,
John L.
Shoreline, WA