Wing removal

[MarkL]

HI All,
New builder here. I have just finished a RV8 and need to fill the workshop again! I would like to build a Hatz, but I am wondering what is involved to remove the wings for the winter season.

My hangar will not hold the RV and the Hatz, and removing the 20 close tolerance bolts on the RV is not a option. Nor is letting one or the other sit out during the winter.

What is involved to remove the 4 wings? Is this a doable thing on a annual basis? Is the fuel tank part of the center section and stays with the fuse?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark

[JBMoore]

Welcome to the gaggle Mark!
Removing the wings on an annual basis..... an interesting concept.
Answer to question #4 first. Of the Hatz' I've seen so far, none has a fuel tank in the wings so that shouldn't be a problem.
Answer to question #1. To remove the wings you will need to remove the flying and landing wires, remove any fairings, disconnect the aileron cables (maybe even remove the ailerons ), disconnect the pitot system, remove five bolts on each "N" strut and remove two attach bolts for each panel.
Answers to question #3 and #4.... when I put the wings on mine, it took four people all afternoon to accomplish the task. It then took several days to rig the system and several filghts to get the final adjustments where I was happy with the flying characteristics. If you wanted to do this every spring, I suppose it could be done if the help is around or you had some stands to move a panel around by yourself. At the speed I work, I could see this taking me a week to get it accomplished.

Jeff Moore

[hatz215]

With some planning it could be done. Its a lot of work, but alot of airshow performers have done it on a weekly basis. The late Jimmy Franklin trailered the jet Waco for years. I believe Jim Leroy dissassembled his Pitts for traveling also. Its like anything else, you will do it twice as fast the second time.

Steve G

[mtaylor]

Remove the flying wires first since the landing wires hold the wings up. Back off the tension 2 turns on each FLYING wire and then you can remove the nuts and bolts securing the wire attach lugs in place. Then the wires can be removed intact with lugs still attached to the wires on both ends. Mark them as to which wires they are and which is top/bottom. Always turn the same number of turns on each wire so you can remember the number easily. You can write a number reminder on a piece of tape and stick it on the wires. Wrap the wires up and store them in a safe place. Prop up the wing tips and remove the landing wires by removing the nuts and bolts holding the wire attachment lugs. Don't loosen the wires at all. Label the lugs as to top/bottom, left wing/right wing, front/mid rear, etc.
When you go to reattach the wings, put the landing wires on first, then attach the flying wires, snug them up by turning them each 2 turns. No rerigging should be neccesary. The center section can stay put so roll wires can stay, since the center section is only 53" wide and up high enough to not bang your head on as you squeeze by.

Should'nt be too big of a deal, maybe an afternoon. A friend told me years ago that the worst damage done to an airplane during it's life is not when it's flying, but when it's stored and moved around on the ground. I've found that to be so true.

Good luck!

[dougm]

Should'nt be too big of a deal, maybe an afternoon. A friend told me years ago that the worst damage done to an airplane during it's life is not when it's flying, but when it's stored and moved around on the ground. I've found that to be so true.

Good luck!

As other have said it's certainly doable, but personally I wouldn't do it as a regular means of storage for the reason Mark stated above. The odds of the wings getting damaged or the wires getting nicked would make me want to do this on an "as needed" basis only.

You mentioned that the hangar won't hold both planes... is that still true if the wings are off the Hatz? In other words, are you going to take the wings off and put the Hatz in the back of the hangar or transport it someplace else for the winter?

[MarkL]

Hi All,
Thank you so much for the information. It looks doable for me. I was going to build a cart for the wings with casters to move them around the hangar as needed or make some kind of wall unit for storage over the winter. The fuselage can be placed in the back of the hangar.

Now to order the plans preview kit.

thanks again,
Mark