stick controls

[tfknm]

Hi, does anyone know if I can buy a kit to change my PA-160 Tri-pacer to stick controle.

[d.grimm]

Paging Brian at Steve's Aircraft!

[Steve Pierce]

No kit but there might be. Here is a thread with lots of great discussion on this subject. http://www.shortwingpipers.org/forum/showthread.php?4451-Sticks-in-a-Pacer&highlight=sticks Hopefully Brian will find the time to get this approved for multiple use. ;-)

[Stephen]

Hi, does anyone know if I can buy a kit to change my PA-160 Tri-pacer to stick controle.

Nothing exists and anything in the future is way off in the distance. Brian did a good deal of work designing this mod...but, much more work is involved even before someone starts the approval process with the FAA. Then, FAA process will take a long time. Bottom line is it worth the time for someone to go through all the work and money to sell this STC??? I hope so!

[Steve Pierce]

Stephen got a one time STC for this mod on his airplane.

[Tyler H.]

Stephen do you have some photos of this you could repost so I could get an idea of what you did? The ones in the other thread didn't work for me.

[stevesaircraft(Bri)]

Yes I am here, yes it is still in the works. But, it is on the back burner until we get a few other projects completed. Right now we are going full hog on the PA-28 tail wheel conversion.

On another note. I have been thinking about the stick mod and am contemplating another way to go about it in order to minimize the amount of modification's to the airframe. My thought is to mount the stick control in the same position on the floor where the original T column is located. This would do two things. It would eliminate complicated rerouting of the aileron control cables and it would eliminate any modification to the flap handle or relocating of the flap handle. I have yet to complete any drawings doing it this way but I do plan to do so to get a visual idea of whether or not it will work.

Brian.

[Tyler H.]

OK, so I am sorry to try and hijack the topic but why would you want to put a tailwheel on the Cherokee? I have some time in a Warrior III and I don't really see how you would add a new front landing gear.

[stevesaircraft(Bri)]

I did a cut and paste from my thread on the "cub" sister site.


For several years now we have been working on a STC to convert a PA-28 Cherokee into a tail dragger.....Why you might ask....because its different and no one else has done so with the exception of one "one off" conversion with the gear flipped around on the wing spar. Our concept is to use a one piece gear leg bolted onto the bottom of the fuselage at the forward bulkhead just in front of the seats. We are bolting the system into the fuselage with a couple of machined blocks in the interior and a spacer plate on the bottom of the frame. The blocks and plate are bolted through some of the main structure of the frame thus transferring the gear loads throughout the fuselage structure. The gear leg is made by Grove and is gun drilled for the brake lines.

I have included pictures of our fuselage that we are using for drop testing and mock up of the system. We have a certification letter in place with the FAA that was written by a DER. Once we get the tail wheel system figured out, we will proceed with loading the airframe up to gross weights and then doing a series of drop tests.

Questions and comments are welcome.

Brian.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs492.ash1/26911_382837970215_79219185215_4391377_5002528_n.j pg

http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs492.snc3/26911_382837980215_79219185215_4391379_2844892_n.j pg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs492.ash1/26911_382838000215_79219185215_4391383_763498_n.jp g

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs492.ash1/26911_382838010215_79219185215_4391385_3644091_n.j pg

[Tyler H.]

Brian that does look sweet. I think this would be a very interesting plane to fly.

[d.grimm]

Brian,
If you need some help on the stick conversion I will be needing a new project soon. I take direction well and have worked with the FAA.
I think the stick control mod for the Pacer would be as popular as it is with the Swift group.
Dave

[BatPacer]

Ooooh. A Cherokee on 31" BWs!! Now that's going to be cool! See if you can move the wings up top as well, Steve. In all seriousness, I love it. Good job!

[nicka]

here is a link to pics of a Cherokee converted to a tailwheel, if this does not work google cherokee taildragger and go to the Piper Owners forum for the pics, http://img233.imageshack.us/i/140taildragger5sk3.jpg/, Also as far the stick controls the Bushmaster had stick controls and the Bushmaster is just a stretched Pacer, a copycat of the Producer.

[stevesaircraft(Bri)]

This Cherokee was done by mounting the gear on the front of the wing spar and then angling the struts forward 15 degrees. We talked to the guy who did the mod and it was "eventually" approved on a one time STC. According to him, it rides rough because the struts do not like to work at the angle they are mounted.

Brian.


http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7386/140taildragger5sk3.jpg

[skydogk]

Brian,

Since you asked for questions / comments, I can't help but to chime in here. It looks really cool, practical maybe, but still cool! Now one nagging question, since the comment about 31"Bushwheels, and having worked on a few cherokees up here in gravel country, are you planning on doubling the belly skin? As you know, the belly skin is the only thing seperating the outside from the inside and being a taildragger might be an invitation for excessive skin damage.

Just a thought,

skydogk

[skydogk]

On second thought, with the nose wheel gone, the wheels will be away from the fuselage hence gravel damage will be isolated to the wing skins. I wouldn't worry about the belly as much as the stabilator just like a ragwing.

skydogk

[Tyler H.]

Is there a way to put a gravel shield on the gear like a 737-200?

[rmalone]

Adding a tailwheel to anything makes it better right?

[rmalone]

One other thing Brian. When you figure out that stick thing I will be ready to throw some money your way. I really like the idea of using the existing control mount point. I like the way you think.

[Stephen]

Here are some pictures of the stick installation I did a few years ago

[Tyler H.]

That looks awesome and I want it in my plane! By the way, the window on the pilots side doesn't look, is that an STC?

[Stephen]

There are two left side door STC's. Check out Eddie Trimmer's.

http://www.trimmeraviation.com/

[Tyler H.]

I think that is the one that I have but haven't installed it and don't know if I will since the fuel selector has to be moved for $350. To digress further form the topic, do think that it is worth the $600?

[Stephen]

Yes, it is a major improvement for our planes. I like being able to get my passangers set in their seats before I climb in....I like being able to climb out anytime (that I'm on the ground...that is.) I want without getting others to get out first. AND....flying over water asw I do, it is nice to know that I've got a quick exit if I need it. Also, the Eddie Trimmer fuel mod is also a good improvement.

[Throttle Pusher]

Does the door mod give you any extra shoulder room?