Tail wheel suspension

[Chris In Milwaukee]

I'm looking forward to following this product's progress so when I need a tailwheel assembly for the Expedition, there will be enough experience with it to have a 3500-4000 pound version available

[Battson]

I believe the dampening shock relieves stresses to the fuselage frame in both directions, vertical and horizontal.

I agree it definitely it makes a big difference to the impulsive force in the vertical direction, that would be reduced directly proportionally to how much time the spring takes to soak it up. Less acceleration it better.

However, the horizontal force-vectors will not change much at all with improved vertical axis dampening. So the horizontal acceleration or impulsive force would not have changed much either.

If as you say, the new T3 tailwheel assembly is indeed stiffer than a leaf spring in the horizontal axis, then that will actually be worsening the horizontal loading and shear stresses on the attachment points.

[Battson]

Mechanical Engineers are such losers, am I right???

[lsa140]

That is exactly what I was curious about. One situation where the vertical dampening would reduce a side load would be when the tail slams down with the tailwheel pivoted to the side. Watch the tail on a cub when this happens, it vibrates badly (twisting). The T3 would help quite a bit in this scenario. If the tail was being swung around and the wheel impacted something I would think the rigidity of the T3 would impart more strain on the attach points. The increased responsiveness of the T3 could lessen the side load by adapting vertically more quickly to a hole or rock. A stinger would probably handle side loads the best over the T3 or leaf?

[whee]

I wouldn't say losers but we most definitely are nerds. I get all excited when someone starts talking geek speak.