" (a) Ground clearance. There must be a clearance of at least 180 mm (for
each aeroplane with nose wheel landing gear) or 230 mm (for each aeroplane
with
tail wheel landing gear) between each propeller and the ground with the
landing gear statically deflected and in the level, normal take-off, or
taxying
attitude, whichever is most critical. In addition, for each aeroplane with
conventional landing gear struts using fluid or mechanical means for
absorbing
landing shocks, there must be positive clearance between the propeller and
the
ground in the level take-off attitude with the critical tyre completely
deflated and the corresponding landing gear strut bottomed."
If my interpretation is right there have to be two checks made. You first
load the aircraft up to its maximum weight and the clearance has to be in
excess of 230mm, then you deflate the tyre and there should then be what
they
describe as "positive clearance".
My question is:
In the mono, is there a conventional landing gear? - and if not, are
there conventional landing gear struts? (pleural?)
Another query is:
Rather than 'bottom' the landing gear strut, could not one calculate
the geometric height equivalent and ADD a length it to the non-'critical'
strut, then take the clearance measurement and subtract the calculated
height to acquire the figure?
It's all somewhat ethereal, what?
It also occurs that when the directional control of the machine is lost,
most victims ding the prop. What then is the danger of dinging the prop for
a different reason (Flat tire)? I can only suppose shrapnel to onlookers...
Cheers, Ferg
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