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jglazener
Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 76
Location: Schoonhoven, Netherlands
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 Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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In the latest issue of Kitplanes magazine, on page 14, an example is given of drilling holes in the brake disc to save weight. Does anyone know whether this is possible / advisable / plain stupid on the Europa?
On the subject, a great sage at Boeing once told me that the best aviation manufacturers are the ones who were best at making holes, ie saving weight that way. Having worked in helicopters I remember we were looking for grams on a helicopter that weighed many tons. I know I am constantly on the lookout, even for little things like shaving off bolts that are too long. Is there anyone who has compiled a list of clever things that you can do on a Europa in this regard?
Jeroen G
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rparigoris
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 805
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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Hi Jeroen"In the latest issue of Kitplanes magazine, on page 14, an example is given of drilling holes in the brake disc to save weight. Does anyone know whether this is possible / advisable / plain stupid on the Europa?"I didn't yet see the article, but>>>>>>>I shoehorned a 60HP YTZ250 motor in a YZ80 frame. To handle the extra speed and weight i put the discs from the YTZ onto the ZY. The front disc was drilled, but the back was not. Happened to be same diameter so i used the front as a drill jig and started to drill, and drill and drill and drill, etc. etc. etc. etc. I own a professional Darex drill sharpener and it got a nice workout. Then once you drill all the holes you get to deburr both sides. Many hours of work, I forget the weight savings and it was not worth it. I don't see why you couldn't drill disc, not worth it doing 1 hole at a time with drill press. With a CNC perhaps.Some weight savings ideas:Aft mounted battery if you are tending nose heavyAluminium with copper clad cableOdyssey PC545 battery instead of 680Monowheel over triNo interiorLight panelGo light on fill and paint on bottom of planeGo on a mini dietRon Parigoris [quote][b]
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frans(at)privatepilots.nl
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:16 pm Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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On 04/15/2010 10:09 PM, jglazener wrote:
| Quote: | we were looking for grams on a helicopter that weighed many tons.
I am constantly on the lookout, even for little things like shaving
off bolts that are too long. Is there anyone who has compiled a list
of clever things that you can do on a Europa in this regard?
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The biggest weight savings can be found by trimming the pilot.
1) Make sure to go to the toilet before commencing flight.
2) Get a haircut. Shave yourself. We're talking about grams, remember?
3) Dress light. Just swimming trousers can be sufficient during the
summer. No boots but open shoes, or maybe no shoes at all.
4) Swap your headset for a clarity aloft or alike light weight headset.
5) Don't eat or drink before you fly.
6) And the most important one: Get on a diet. For the avarage pilot it
is easily possible to shed 10 Kg's of weight, without adverse effects on
health (often quite the opposite).
10 Kg's!!! How much effort do you have to do to save this by shaving off
bolts and dremeling off spoilt epoxy?
On a more serious note: Fly the airplane more efficiently. Often a few
knots less speed will get you at your destination with 10Kgs less fuel
needed. 
Get a two blade prop. One blade of a CS prop is 4Kg's worth. Apart from
that, it cruises more efficiently, cutting down on fuel (read: weight).
Get a second alternator. Now you can save on your batteries, because you
only need them for starting, not for redundancy during flight. My Rotax
914 starts easily multiple times on a small Odyssey 310.
Frans
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grahamsingleton(at)btinte
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:54 pm Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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Frans
in theory only is a 2 blade more efficient, you get more vibration that can't be balanced out. More vibration gives more disruption to laminar flow so more drag.
This is also why 2 blade windmills are more likely to throw blades. 2 blades don't cope with non axial air flow, multi blades do
Graham
From: Frans Veldman <frans(at)privatepilots.nl>
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Thursday, 15 April, 2010 23:14:32
Subject: Re: Weight reduction - Brake Discs
Get a two blade prop. One blade of a CS prop is 4Kg's worth. Apart from
that, it cruises more efficiently, cutting down on fuel (read: weight).
Frans
[quote][b]
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frans(at)privatepilots.nl
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:50 am Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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On 04/16/2010 12:54 AM, GRAHAM SINGLETON wrote:
| Quote: | in theory only is a 2 blade more efficient, you get more vibration that
can't be balanced out.
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I agree about the vibration, although if this is a valid argument, why
not add even more blades? 7 blades gives even less vibration.
| Quote: | More vibration gives more disruption to laminar
flow so more drag.
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Well, I can't follow this one. Can you explain why? The vibration of a
2-blade prop has nothing to do with the blade itself, but to the fact
that one blade is working harder than the other blade if the wind isn't
exactly axial. Each blade however doesn't "know" that there is another
blade. In fact, this same inbalance exists with a three blade prop, but
you just don't notice it because the "peaks" are no longer symmetrical
but 120 degrees out of phase. For the air flowing over a blade, it
doesn't matter though.
| Quote: | This is also why 2 blade windmills are more likely to throw blades.
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Not because of a less efficient airflow, but because vibrations can
weaken the attachment of the blades.
Luckily, airplanes have been flying for decennia with two blades, so
there is still enough knowledge to construct a blade that doesn't fall
apart.
Frans
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grahamsingleton(at)btinte
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: Weight reduction - Brake Discs |
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--> Europa-List message posted by: Frans Veldman <frans(at)privatepilots.nl (frans(at)privatepilots.nl)>
| Quote: | More vibration gives more disruption to laminar
flow so more drag.
Well, I can't follow this one. Can you explain why?
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Because the aircraft is vibrating in yaw, the flow over the whole airframe is affected. Think if one wing is going forward and the other backwards. Only a few thou admittedly but enough to affect drag I think.
| Quote: | This is also why 2 blade windmills are more likely to throw blades.
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Not because of a less efficient airflow, but because vibrations can
weaken the attachment of the blades.
Yes, because as you say the pulses are in opposite phase.
Graham
[quote][b]
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