DISC BRAKES ON AQUILLA

[BOOMARANG]

I want to fit disc brakes on the back wheels of my Aquilla. My father , who is a retired pilot and a/c engineer says he can do it using motorcyle disc brakes and hydrolics. Can anynoe help with advise, photos etc. Maybe someone has done it and can offer some advice.

I do a lot of short field landings and effective brakes will help a lot when the fence comes rushing up!

Thanks
Cor

[Dobbs]

Hi Boomerang, two comments - if you want to go non standard and stay compliant, I suspect that there will be a lot of paperwork and testing, I tried it will a Raptor wing for my Windlass, and after speaking to CAA, laughed off the idea, unless of course Solo Wings have this as an approved mod.

Secondly, with good brakes you will be able to get into short fields, however, where will you take off

Even with the poor brakes on my Windlass, I can stop shorter than the distance required for me to take off, but I suppose it's nice to have if / when you need them.

[IceAge]

Disc brakes also, due to the light weight of the trike, tend to 'lock' quicker causing skidding which could cause other problems. Have disc brakes on the Thunderbird and if not carefull this happens very fast, especially on grass or gravel....

[ystervark7]

I am convinced that brakes on the back wheels are safer than just front wheel brakes. I have flown both: on my Spirit II (front brake only) and on Oupa-G's DTA (drum brakes at the back as well).

The question is do you need it? I think yes. 90% of the time that I land I probably do not need brakes at all. It is just that regardless of how careful you are, sometimes you get yourself into a situation where you need to stop quickly. I can think of 2 instances where it would have help me if I had brakes at the back at the time. Recently I have also visited the scene of a trike accident in Namibia where the accident would quite likely have been avoided if he had brakes at the back.

I do not want to get in the legality of this but I think that it is ridiculous if CAA does not approve such a change since it improves safety, or maybe they are not really interested in safety.

I can also tell you that my new trike will have disk brakes at the back. I will use motorbike brakes at the back. The disks I will be custom make because I do not think that I will find disks that are small enough. The cylinder I will make on the lathe but I have seen one that uses the original lever-cylinder from the motor bike. If there is somebody with an older DTA close to you you can take a look at the way that they have done it. Depending on your rims your biggest problem might be attaching the disks to the rims.

[BOOMARANG]

The problem that I have is that I land on my smallholding and have about the lenght of a rugby field to do my thing. I can only take off in one direction and land again from the opposite side.Taking off is not the problem, the Aquilla 582 climbs like a homesick angel. When I come in to land however , I have to hit the spot at the beginning in order to stop in time. If there is a sudden bit off lift etc and you overshoot a couple of meters the tapdancing starts as there are a fence and some trees waiting at the other end and it may become dicey to try and fly out.

The front brakes on my Aquilla only works for a second or two , but once they heat up there is nothing to be proud of and for all practical purposes I have no brakes. I have tried everything and nothing makes it better. Are all the Windlass/Aquilla brakes so bad ? It would just be nice to touch down, hit the brakes and feel the decellaration!

Ystervark ,I have looked at and measured different discs and calipers and think I have found a match. Even attaching them do not seem to be such a problem. The most suitable ones seems to be that from a scooter or four wheeler and the cost per side about R600. I took off the Aquilla wheel and took it to a few bike shops and was surprised to find how easy it was to find a match. All items are standard and all that need to be done is the fitting of the disc to the rim and a bracket for the calipers. My dad is a retired Aircraft engineer/AP and he do not see a problem in fitting it. (luckely he also have a lathe and all the leeker tools to make life easier!)

I also take note of the fact that they may lock easy as well as the legal aspects and already confirmed that Solowings do not make/ fit the brakes. So what will the CAA require, that I fit the brakes and fly it fot 40 hours!!

Maybe with the right advice and help I can do this and get it approved.......I'm sure I am not the only one who wish they had better brakes on their Windlass.

[Alkemac]

I did a large percentage of my initial training with disc brakes on the back wheels, and never once did they lock up...

[Tailspin]

The Pink lady has only brakes on the front and i must say they work pretty well.
They actually hold the plane and the front wheel actually pushes backwards when going to full power and brakes full on.

[Bayliner]

I have brakes on the rear wheels of my trike. Comes as a standard fixture. The brakes are cable activated drums and they work very well. I have flown a variety of trikes with only front brakes and believe me you can tell the difference but that being said front only braked trikes are not unsafe at all.

My opinion.

[Bundy]

The problem that I have is that I land on my smallholding and have about the lenght of a rugby field to do my thing. I can only take off in one direction and land again from the opposite side.Taking off is not the problem, the Aquilla 582 climbs like a homesick angel. When I come in to land however , I have to hit the spot at the beginning in order to stop in time. If there is a sudden bit off lift etc and you overshoot a couple of meters the tapdancing starts as there are a fence and some trees waiting at the other end and it may become dicey to try and fly out.

The front brakes on my Aquilla only works for a second or two , but once they heat up there is nothing to be proud of and for all practical purposes I have no brakes. I have tried everything and nothing makes it better. Are all the Windlass/Aquilla brakes so bad ? It would just be nice to touch down, hit the brakes and feel the decellaration!

Ystervark ,I have looked at and measured different discs and calipers and think I have found a match. Even attaching them do not seem to be such a problem. The most suitable ones seems to be that from a scooter or four wheeler and the cost per side about R600. I took off the Aquilla wheel and took it to a few bike shops and was surprised to find how easy it was to find a match. All items are standard and all that need to be done is the fitting of the disc to the rim and a bracket for the calipers. My dad is a retired Aircraft engineer/AP and he do not see a problem in fitting it. (luckely he also have a lathe and all the leeker tools to make life easier!)

I also take note of the fact that they may lock easy as well as the legal aspects and already confirmed that Solowings do not make/ fit the brakes. So what will the CAA require, that I fit the brakes and fly it fot 40 hours!!

Maybe with the right advice and help I can do this and get it approved.......I'm sure I am not the only one who wish they had better brakes on their Windlass.

Hi Boomerang,

By and large, the brakes on the Aquilla's do seem pretty bad but like one or two of the guys above, I guess I have not really needed to brake very quickly yet and have not been pushed to the limit ha ha.
I do think that I would prefer to have (not necessarily disc brakes) the braking on the back wheels as I think given the option I would rather have the wheels lock up at the back than in the front?
Just do your homework before hand with re to the regs as an illegal mod will certaintly bite you if there was ever an incident. Insurance companies will pounce on that without hesitation!

Good luck and keep us informed as I would also like to have a look at this option when I EVENTUALLY get my own plane.

[Alkemac]

gee, and I was told brakes are for sissies anyway

[AndyG]

Boomerang,

Have you checked to see if the brake shoes are not glazed on your trike. I have flown many many Aquilas and never had a problem with the brakes. Even on my first skinny wheel Windlass the front brake used to be adequate.

[HENNING JOHAN]

I was today @ rainbow aircraft factory and Walter the manager said they are looking to bring the scout out with back brakes!

[Madman]

Hi,

With my front brake on my Windlass...if I brake to hard I pull a stoppie

Would back brakes not make the trike want to slide out as if you pulling the handbrake on a car

For short field, I would suggest killing the mags,dead stick landing..that way you don't have anymore forward movement caused by the prop....just a thought...

[Bundy]

Madman... I think you are a madman!

What if you screw it up and have to go around? You stuffed without the engine?

[HENNING JOHAN]

I have learned to brake and pull the bar in so that the wing becomes like a air brake!