Transporting Fuselage with Engine to Hangar

[KinzuaBearhawk]

I am getting ready to transport my fuselage to a hangar where I will attach wings and finalize assembly. My engine is mounted. I’m concerned about the 30 minute, 20 mile ride on a flatbed with my engine bouncing along. What have others done to reduce stress on the airframe? I can easily remove the cowling and have not yet mounted the propeller. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[TimTall]

If you've got it mounted on the landing gear i can't see how you'd have any issues as long as you take your time and avoid the worst bumps. I've put way more force through the airframe landing than the drive to the airport ever did.

 

[alaskabearhawk]

Total non-issue. Just take it slow if it's a bumpy road.

 

[noema]

Thats how much weight I hung on my engine for testing:



Then I dropped it from about 1.5 ft on its gear:

https://youtu.be/UPvK5xR43sY?feature=shared

Finally I drove it 3h to my test airport.

A few bumps on a 30min drive should be fine.

 

[svyolo]

Equipment rental places have "low boy" trailers. They hydraulically lower flat to the ground to make it easy to load stuff like a fuselage. A bit more money to rent, but easy one man job.

 

[KinzuaBearhawk]

Thanks guys. I love the pictures. One less thing for me to worry about,

 

[rv8bldr]

Yup, No problem. I even had the empennage all mounted I cut up some pool noodles to protect the leading edges of the tail and landing gear from stones and put bubble wrap on the windscreen and prop..

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[KinzuaBearhawk]

Beautiful plane.