Microlighters

I have seen plenty of the open (flat bed type trailers, but does anyone in SA have something like this?


This is what lives inside...


Looks like I will never get that hangar at the Coves (Price is double again... ), so was thinking along the lines of a mobile toy box for the animal......

I know boet is anti trailering, but this would be more to store it in (protect from wind, rain and expecially hail) and maybe once the kids out the house to drag behind the winnebago

Questions:
Where would 1 get something like this built?
Cost
Licensing issues (I heard home built trailers are now a NO NO in terms of NATIS?
Comments?

George,

You need to look at overhang on the back axle. That first pic looks to long but it all depends on weight and distribution. Also depends on the draw etc.Give me some specs and I will look at it for you re Natis etc.

I can also advise on some great trailer builders.

Cheers,

Andy

Just looking at this stage. Know Jack about what goes on...

just want to assess if it is worth looking into? <R40 for a "portable" hangar vs R400K for a fixed one I can not take when we leave

Yeah the regs have changed about being able to make your own trailer with a few more hoops to jump through. Suggested to a mate of mine to find someone who has a scrapped trailer and use serial/chassis/registration numbers on new trailer.

Another thought. WIll a BB folded fit in a container and where would one source one of these? Price? We used to rent them and use as site offices/stores on the sites, but the supplier has gone belly up and new guy wont sell only rent.

to swing the wings back requires the following

1. remove the turtle deck (8 screws)
2. decouple the flaperons (2 nuts, I would change these to wingnuts and drill a whole in each bolt to add a safety ring if this is going to be a regular occurance)
3. remove the safety clip on each leading edge wing bolt
4. pull out the leading edge bolts
5. swing back and secure.

Total time 10min or less

Now in the tricycle version, the swinging of the wings back makes the weight move backwards and the front wheel lifts off the ground. (this makes a nosewheel version difficult to move around and tie down. The tailie version doesn't have this problem.

The trailer doesn't have to have double axles because even though it is large, an aerie only ways 350kg max. Same weight as your average Harley or Honda Goldwing. It's just needs to be about 6 meters long.

I know of guys who have taken existing trailers, that are already registered and then altered them. No worries about the Natis system then.

I would put a hand/power operated winch at the front and pull the aerie in tail first.

This is a damn good idea

If the BB anywhere near the dimensions of the Kitfox - it will not fit into a standard container with wings folded. It is just too wide by a couple of cm's (if memory serves about 190mm).

If in the open and to get better weight distribution may want to tow the other way around - tail first and raised to help reduce drag.

Won't fit in container - DEMMET....

How does towing backwards effect the controls? Does it not place strain on the elevator/rudder? If closed trailer I would tow that way round. When I drove the KRII up from CT it did not like being towed and there was def strain on the control surfaces IMHO (I could see them "straining" esp when we passed pantechnicon (sp? Beeg trucks )... . It was towed forward facing and controls were "locked" with seatbelt, but still twitched plenty.

with the wings swung back the rudder can't move much, and the elevator only down. I would make up some supports that you push on from the back that fits above and below the tail wings and elevators that is nicely padded and supports the wings.

Secondly your wing is now suspended on a single bolt. There are two attachment points on the fuse next to the rudder. I would fashion some sort of support between that and the main wings so that the wings don't move up and down in transit and cause chafing.

If you're not going to trailor it regularly, why don't you buy a 'horse and trailor' trailor. Full up on the auctions and along Benoni highway and you can pay someone when you need to tow it.

Attach ramps, use a boat winch to hoist into the trailer.

We clamped the control surfaces on a rib line, from leading edge to trailing edge of the moving surface. Surfaces not able to move at all - comfortably trailered at about 120kms/h.

Lots of places that sell containers. You could speak to Hugo of Petit airfield - he should be able to put you onto containers. What about that place that is selling in Fly-in?.