[daddyman]

I'm at the point in my build that I'm about to do the main gear leg fairings.
The plans call for wood/foam with aluminum over, or all foam with fiberglass over.
I am wondering if anyone has used carbon fiber?
It is not for the strength or rigidity which would be a bonus, but instead because I have so much of it "laying" around.

OK, I also think it looks cool.

Is there a reason why I should not do this?

Also, is there a good reason not to use a single outer structure instead of the 2-part as the plans call for?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Daddyman

 

[steve lenne]

Gear leg farings

I used carbon fibre. One piece. They are not flexible and difficult to remove and refit.
Steve
Rv3

 

[Larry DeCamp]

Carbon works

I wrapped my Rv3b legs with carbon instead of hinged fairings to get the forward /aft stiffness with one component instead of two ( stiffener + fairing).
It worked very well. Mycool has the Rv now so contact him to get his input.
Send me your email for fab pics if desired. [email protected]/ text 7655051160 for discussion. Also, Rocket Bob has a thread on Carbon wrap for stiffness.

 

[wirejock]

Stiffener

There's a thread about stiffeners by Paul Dye. You could use a piece of carbon fiber instead of the .125 aluminum.
No idea how it would perform. Maybe one of the super-duper Engineers can run the numbers.

 

[RV8JD]

Fiberglass/Carbon Fiber Stiffeners

"Hitt7A" used a fiberglass/carbon fiber stiffeners with success on a -7A. His detailed post on how he did it:

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=186409​

 

[mfleming]

You might wait until you find out if you need them before going to all that trouble.

I postponed making the stiffeners and found out that, in my case, they aren't needed..