Derig Wing

[KlapperKnop]

I need to derig my wing from the cart and store it whilst performing some maintenance. Is this an involved job/task or easy to do? I am mechanically inclined, but also do not want to stuff things up.

[Loco]

Hello

All I can say is good luck!

I only had to de-rig and then rig my wing once before and found it to be quite an undertaking mostly because I didn't know what's what

Check this very cool post by John.com which helped me a lot: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=17909

Cheers
Ant

[Dobbs]

You definately do not need to be mechnically minded to derig and rerig a wing.

Admittadely is is a bit of a pain, and you will need someone to help you, depending on what wing it is, but do not be put off doing it, in fact this is something which should be included in the theory / practical for getting a trike license.

Your manual will have the dissasembly and reassembly instructions in it.

There was a guy here in Empangeni who would arrive at the field, rig his plane, a Windlass with traditional wing, not the topless, fly with us and then take his plane home. Fortunately he has now got himself hangarage

[nicow]

All trike pilots must be able to derig a trikes wing-ask someone at your airfield for help,but learn to do it,you might just need to do it on a cross country,or out landing...

[Grumpy]

By all means 'learn' how to do it, but you don't want to do it unless absolutely necessary. Take it off and store on it's nose but don't de-rig if you can help it.
Good luck.

[Dobbs]

Hi Grumpy, that is an interesting comment - why are you so opposed to derigging a wing?

I know that there are many stories about wing damage due to trailering etc, but that is because they were not folded / packed correctly.

A friend spent an afternoon some time ago at Solo Wings watching and practicing the correct packing of wings, which he in turn has passed onto us - touch wood - despite trailering from differrent destinations as far North as Mozambique, and as far South as the Transkei, we have not suffered any damage - unless of course you have concerns which I have not thought of?

I agree with nicow, one day you may just need to do it far from home, and unless you do it properly, chances are that you will suffer some damage.

[Triker]

I agree that it is a good thing to know. See it as a learning curve and part of flying and the technical about how a wing works (delta shape specifically)
and keeps you in the air and in tacked.

Wing damage- Yes it is possible to pack a wing in such a way that you dont get damage..but
it al depends
1. how many times you have done it (experience) as you will alway repack a wing better than the previous time.
2. what type of road you are travelling on and
3. the type of trailer and how you tie the wing to the trailer

Above mentioned is what I have personally experienced

I have packed my wing for a trip to the kalahari(gravel road) and even after using 6mx 2sqm bubble wrap and wrapping almost everything thats everything, i still got some shaffing damage.

But the biggest issue about derigging a wing is that chances are, it wont always fly the same when rigging up again. Not that last mentioned was my case but it happens that you slightly bend a rib/batten when pulling out of a the wing "sock" as an example

Weighing up the scale, I'd say go for the learning curve and de-rig the wing to get that knowledge but dont transport if not necessary
I have done it in the past. Got the know-how but won't do it again if not really necessary

Good luck and enjoy the experience
cheers

[Grumpy]

Hey Dobbs, no real reason other than what has been stated here in the thread.
To me, It's a HUGE schlepp, I've done it twice, once when I bought the plane and once when I trailored it on holiday. You need a large grassed area, some mates to help, and such a lot of 'little' things to make sure you have done correctly etc etc etc.
No fun to me.

[vernon11]

When I baught my trike when I lived in Richards Bay. Every weekend saterday and Sunday, I had to rig and derig. As you said Grumpy a huge schlepp. Eventually I baught a hangar in Empangeni. That made flying a total pleasure. Dobbs now has the hangar I had.
Vernon.