Exterior bike mount

[BHBC]

I'm considering adding exterior bike mounts to my 4-place BH. I found these photos (attached) from a guy in iceland who's done it to his super cub. I know of a C-206 in New Zealand who's done something similar. I'll probably take the bike's front wheel off to get a little more ground clearance. The cub claims a 10kt loss of cruise speed but that's the only performance change he's noticed. It look like he uses a 1" x 6" piece of aluminum as the main point of attachment for the wheels, which are sandwiched with another 1x1 piece of aluminum, plus a rod from the strut to the seat post for stability. Any thoughts on better ways to do this? And best way to attach the 1x6 to the wing?

[whee]

I plan to do something similar. The idea I was going to follow is from a guy in NZ that had mounts on his C185. I can't find the close up pics I used to have; I think I lost them when my hard drive crashed.

My basic idea is to add some big doublers and nutplates to mount the bike racks too.

That supercub mount is interesting.

[Bcone1381]

Carrying two bikes externally is very appealing to a wide audience. I wonder if there was enough interest if Bob B. or Mark G. would publish something on how to do this. I would pay for this information (but it would be cool to have it provided to plans owners to enhance the utility of the design). I would expect weight limitations additional operational limitations. Two hard points secured with nut plates in each wing opens the imagination up to some exciting possibilities.

[SimonNicholson]

I was talking to an old friend who did the flight testing on the C185 you are talking about. Engine failure it fell like a stone with the bikes on. They were thinking about a jettison system for such a scenario but decided not to in the end. Most of his flights are 20 mins or less, taking bikers to a trail head. Anything further and the drag/fuel penalty is horrendous. Better to stack the bikes inside. That is what the Bearhawk does best.

[tbaylx]

I've hauled my fair share of external loads on C185's and beavers. Those pictures make me cringe. I'd want some pretty solid flight test data on effects on stall speeds/characteristics, drag and other flight parameters before I strapped a bike to the bottom of a wing. I'd much rather take the wheels off and stick it in the back.

[Battson]

My friends are doing the folding bike thing in their Jabaru, which is a much smaller plane. Unless you want to have four people and four bikes, I think internal carriage is a better choice (personally). But you didn't come for opinions about what you want to do!

I would be talking to Bob about strengthening the spar flanges to create hardpoints where the bikes attach. They are going to pull hard because of the drag, and create a lot of twisting and strain upon the spars. How to attach the bikes to the hardpoints is a secondary concern.

[jaredyates]

Folding bikes wouldn't have the same "ramp presence" as an externally-mounted bike though...

[Bcone1381]

And take up space where the camping gear will be stored.

[PaulSA]

I would be talking to Bob about strengthening the spar flanges to create hardpoints where the bikes attach. They are going to pull hard because of the drag, and create a lot of twisting and strain upon the spars. How to attach the bikes to the hardpoints is a secondary concern.

Couldn't agree more. This is primary, critical structure and you really don't want to be messing with it unless you REALLY know what you are doing........

[BHBC]

Thanks all. Folding bikes aren't an option as i'm usually hauling light, carbon mountain bikes. I'll certainly be confirming the design with Bob before building it (and I"ll post here again for comments on it!)

[Bcone1381]

Keep us updated. If you get an approved design from Bob, consider submitting it as an article in Beartracks.

[whee]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with BHBC.
Two 27.5"+ wheeled MTBs and camping gear will fit in the BH without any disassembly of the bikes if you removed the rear seat. My situation will be 4 bikes and 4 people or 5 people and camping gear. The wing hard points would provide the ability to either carry bikes or wing pods.

[Chris In Milwaukee]

I look forward to seeing what you come up with BHBC.
Two 27.5"+ wheeled MTBs and camping gear will fit in the BH without any disassembly of the bikes if you removed the rear seat. My situation will be 4 bikes and 4 people or 5 people and camping gear. The wing hard points would provide the ability to either carry bikes or wing pods.

Or missiles

[Mark Goldberg]

A belly pod might be a better direction to head if you need more space to carry things. Mark

[Mark Moyle]

I'm looking for a couple aluminum frame fat tire bikes to modify for compaticity....humph...just made up a new word! One large and one medium frame. Will convert to folding bikes. There's a good thread on the subject on the back country pilot site.
Mark M.

[whee]

Or missiles

I was thinking maybe JATO rockets to assist with hoisting quartered out elk off a mountain top.

I've installed provisions for a belly pod but because of CG concerns plan B is wing pods. A local guy makes some pretty cool carbon fiber wing pods and I think that between two of them and all the nooks and crannies in the plane we could make a extended camping trip happen. I'm hopeful that the belly pod will work.

[aachanis]

Somebody at Oshkosh this year had bikes hanging from a channel on their wing. The were on the south side of the main display area around the Glasair booth (but I don't think with Glasair) as I recall. Maybe there's a commercial vendor for this?