WmInce Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I hit a bird a month ago flying at 1000 feet on a return trip from Calgary. It did quite a bit of damage to my right wing. I covered the area with tape until I find someone who can repair it. At the time of the bird strike, did you have your landing light turned on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lays Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 No, light was off. I was flying around snow showers at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted June 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 Trying just to get a new canopy is appearing to be quite a problem. I'm working through Airtime and FD USA doesn't have a line on one and I was told this morning there is no stock at the factory, either. So, right now, Tom's trying to determine what the future for getting the part looks like. If anyone has a line on where we might get our hands on a new canopy, please drop me a line at: andy@flylittleeagles.com. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 That's weird. Does FD simply not stock CTSW parts, now that the CTLS is out? If so that seems shortsighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Don't know whether it's that (which is what it sounds like) or whether it's just bad timing. The word I have at the moment is that it's going to take us 6 weeks to get a windshield. FD USA and Airtime are doing what they can..it just doesn't bode well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted June 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Need to add something to that...just "chatted" with Dave Armando. The 6 week time frame is what it will take to get a windshield with no stock and no outstanding orders. FD USA had an order in and they're getting us a priority on that, so I'm waiting to here what the wait time actually is. Hopefully, it won't be that long and we can get to flying before we bleed out of funds or a hurricane hits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 I view the situation as a lesson about the LSA sector in general. Imagine how hard it would be to get a windshield for most of the other LSAs out there... 20-30 planes in the country, maybe even 2-3 versions over the years, no service centers, no expertise. At least FDUSA carries stock, not every part, but lots of parts. I view FD Germany as a backup. But there are, what, 1700+ CTs flying around the World? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted June 11, 2013 Report Share Posted June 11, 2013 Are you at least able to fly it until the part comes in? Looks like with some duct tape it would be fine if a little unsightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted June 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 No. Frankly, I believe the airplane is structurally sound but FD considers the windshield as part of the structure. I don't believe she's legally flyable except with a ferry permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted June 12, 2013 Report Share Posted June 12, 2013 Ugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 FWIW here in the UK (allegedly in Europe) Flight Design take an age to supply parts - I've been waiting for the bit of trim that goes around the door latch handle for over 8 weeks now and the UK supplier says that is not un-typical, he's had some parts on order for more than a year! All a bit disappointing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Someday soon 3D printing could have a big affect on problems like these. Especially trim things and cosmetics. Perfect for low production things like LSA aircraft. http://www.domain-b.com/technology/engineering/20130419_southampton.html http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130118-3-meter-long-titanium-airplane-part-3d-printed-in-one-piece.html http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2012/07/11/airbus-explores-a-future-where-planes-are-built-with-giant-3d-printers/ Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I have been told that the windshield shipped out of Germany on July 3rd. Hopefully, that'll get the repair going in the next 10 days or so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 No. Frankly, I believe the airplane is structurally sound but FD considers the windshield as part of the structure. I don't believe she's legally flyable except with a ferry permit. FWIW, I had a small crack in the windshield which FD said it was OK to stop drill and continue flying. It seems that it is not automatic that a windshield problem would put the plane down if this is an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 FWIW, I had a small crack in the windshield which FD said it was OK to stop drill and continue flying. It seems that it is not automatic that a windshield problem would put the plane down if this is an example. Jim, did you have to use a special acrylic drill bit? Sometimes drilling with a standard drill bit can *cause* cracking in plexiglass... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 FWIW, I had a small crack in the windshield which FD said it was OK to stop drill and continue flying. It seems that it is not automatic that a windshield problem would put the plane down if this is an example. I agree with your comment, Jim. Even with the hole we had, with no damage to the rest of the windshield and it being bonded to the fuselage, I really couldn't convince myself the airplane wasn't safe to fly. I just couldn't get anyone to step up to the plate to say so and needed to get the repair done anyway, so the most conservative (and most painful) thing to do was to treat it as unairworthy. To even attempt a repair, I was told by FD USA I had to get an MRA approved by the factory and that would take as long as getting the windshield itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 I did not use a special bit, but did take precautions. Drill slowly - low rpm - and with very little pressure. A special bit might be nice - I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpiper Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 There are bits designed for plexiglass. Sounds like you were lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted July 8, 2013 Report Share Posted July 8, 2013 Hi Andy, I would have just stop drilled the crack, put Gorilla tape (the new and improved 200 mph duct tape) over the hole and flown it to where it needed to be fixed. From the pictures you posted I saw no flight issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Meade Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 There are bits designed for plexiglass. Sounds like you were lucky. I was following the advice of a very experienced A&P who has worked a lot with plexiglass. I am not advocating anything, simply reporting what happened. If I had such a bit I would likely have used it. That said, if I didn't have such a bit I'd likely simply do what I did again. I don't have the feeling I was lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Lee Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 I haven't had any issues drill plexi with a standard drill bit so long as it was slow, steady and light pressure and the plexi wasn't super thin. Tiny bits are safe most anytime, but start into the bigger bits and slow is definitely better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 The airplane is in Tulsa at Airtime and the windshield is making its way from Dallas to there, so things are finally moving... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2013 Picture of N547AW with a new windshield in place at Airtime Aviation: http://flylittleeagles.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ctswwsrepair.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted July 24, 2013 Report Share Posted July 24, 2013 access permission problem on pic... tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted July 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2013 Sorry about that. Try this: there's an associated blog at: http://www.flylittleeagles.com/blog/ and a link to the picture on that page. (Not sure why the direct link is giving that error. Lookin' at that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.