Light Aircraft Association

Yes that prop does appear to look rather big. It may have just been fitted with a random prop when finished. The builder was'nt a pilot so would not have intended to fly the aircraft himself!!
You would have to see whats approved for the D9 but id guess you would need something like a 54"x33" etc. It may be worth getting in touch with another D9 owner.

Well, it's the least of my problems at the moment. I have to get the a/c back to my workshop - ANYONE KNOW OF A SUITABLE TRAILER for loan or hire? Then a full inspection, it's been languishing for a very long time, although it looks pretty good and it's been kept in the dry.

I'm actually hoping that there won't be too much remedial stuff to do, but not all stage inspections have been signed and the engine wont be any good. Also an inspection in 2002 showed that the U/C legs were made from undersized material and there is no material paperwork to cover the U/C fabrication.

Hopefully it will be OK and apart from a good hoovering (!) and a new motor, all will be fine.

I can't help a child like excitement at the prospect of flying it!

If the engine is no good, I've noticed there's a 1600 VW that's just been listed on ebay with a starting price of ?250. Might be worth watching? Nowt to do with me BTW so I'm not advertising.

Ivan
________
Central R&D Labs., Inc.

Yes, found it. Francis D reckons there's no need for anything bigger than a 1600 on a D9, but others who fly them think different..... (hot and heavy, short strip etc..)

How far have you got to take it Nigel?

Just north of Milton Keynes, it's about 120 miles from Headcorn, m25, m1 yeuch!

Won't it just go in a 7.5ton truck!? (Which you can drive on your regular licence.)

A friend of my son has a 40' lorry. He will do it for the fuel cost alone (no inconsiderable....) in early April. But if it's possible to do it earlier then I would.

Nigel,
If you were nearer to me, you could borrow mine - it's 22ft long and can be towed by car. A 40ft lorry would be a bit pricey to take on at 6 to 8 miles per gallon !

Bill.

Milton Keynes, Caithness, Headcorn, Milton Keynes, Caithness, Milton Keynes......... mmm! Oh well. Nice thought anyway.

I welded up a trailer for £112 using all new pieces, with the exception of a set of Healey wheels and tyres. Took my FRED 130 miles each way on its' first journey.

http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/ ... trail3.jpg
http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/ ... trail2.jpg

It folds down completely in an hour for storage. The aircraft wheels run up ramps and sit almost on the main axle of the trailer whilst the tailskid bolts onto a sleeve (not in picture) that wraps round the main drawbar and allows the fuselage to be winched up the ramps by simply winching the drawbar sleeve along. Since the wieght is all by the mainwheels and a little on the skid, it doesn't need to be massively sturdy or rigid.

The problem with the Jodel is the one-piece wing, just under 24' long. The fuselage lifts off the wing and the u/c legs are permanently fixed to the the wing/spar. Not designed for moveing other than by air!

Had forgotten Jodel wings were one piece! How about going to your nearest gliding club and trying to borrow a trailer there? You could probably fit the wing in a older-style glider trailer. Not sure whether the fuselage would go in as well...

Already thought of that one! The problem there is that the majority of glider trailers house a glider, generally pretty valuable, so the owners aren't keen to leave it lying on the ground for a couple of days (understandably). There must be exceptions and I might come across one.

I have been offered a particularly manky open glider trailer for £50. It needs new tyres and the brakes overhauled. There's also the small matter of what to do with it when not in use, it's really only going to be needed on a couple of occasions.

It's also 'another' project, no doubt requiring welding etc. I could get it I suppose but I prefer a 'clean' approach!

A thought though; it could be a good 'group' trailer for the BB strut members for example, if someone had space to store it Cost of complete refurbishment probably won't amount to much more than the purchase price, say £150 total, divide that by however many and it's a useful facility???

Boat trailer rental? Lots of longer trailers on Ebay. Might be a boat company around who could rent you one?