Hi all,
The die has been cast. I have promised to take possession of 1 complete
Europa XS Monowheel kit sometime during this year 2000.
I foresee a lot of logistic opportunities and have been thinking hard
about acquiring a covered trailer of some kind first. I want to use it
for:
- transporting the kit from Kirbymoorside to Holland
- storing the (partial) kit - indoors somewhere, outside if need be
- storing the completed aircraft - indoors somewhere, outside if need be
- transporting the completed aircraft to and from the airfield
I would like the trailer to be as short, low and light as possible - a
length of 6.1 m and a height of 2.1 m are critical; above these and all
regular Dutch garages are out; a removable boom(?) would help keep the
trailer short, but then gross weight must be small enough (750 kg is the
legal limit) to allow no brakes.
I realise that glider wings will not fit in a 6.1 m long trailer. Can't
have everything.
But I would like a side door to accommodate filling her up at the gas
station.
I hope some of you have acted on similar considerations and are willing
to advise.
Some thoughts on options:
1. covered factory trailer
- no dolly
- the trailer is lightweight and not very rigid; floor and cover would
have to be very lightweight; the floor could accommodate flexibility;
the cover would probably have to be rigid and self supporting, resting
on 3 trailer points; with a 3 m long unsupported roof overhang at the
back with hinged hanging doors that must fit and close; the removable
floor behind the axle is suspended from the roof overhang too
- seems not practical
2. covered trailer and aircraft on dolly
- the dolly supports all or some of the (mainwheel) weight of the
aircraft; the dolly can be used for shop work as well (including work on
the main wheel)
- the trailer has fixtures to receive and immobilise dolly + (partially)
lifted aircraft
- damage in transport seems likely, unless there is a failsafe way to
immovably join dolly and aircraft (the only bouncing allowed would be
that of the trailer on the road)
- is there such a way?
- is a winch a necessity? does it depend on ramp slope?
3. covered trailer, dolly for on/off only
- the dolly keeps the aircraft upright while the aircraft is being
wheeled on/off the trailer
- the trailer has dedicated fixtures to receive the fuselage and keep
the aircraft upright and in place (see factory trailer; some bouncing of
the aircraft on the trailer allowed)
- the dolly must be designed not to be in the way and to be easily
positioned/raised and lowered/removed while it is in the narrow bowels
of the trailer
- the dolly does not need to lift the aircraft very much; any lifting
option would be for shop work use only
- can this be made to work smoothly?
- would a combination on/off and shop dolly be practical?
- is a winch a necessity? does it depend on ramp slope?
The dolly question is bothering me most; it is the crucial item; what
exactly should it be designed for?
Comments, opinions, especially experiences?
Thanks.
Jan de Jong
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