Message-Id: <199910180437.VAA13138@neti.saber.net>
From: "fred" <twobarons@saber.net>
To: "Lancair List" <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: SB.
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 21:29:47 -0700
Mime-Version: 1.0

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In reference to all the discussion on the current SB, I offer my 2 cents
worth of input.  Approx 450 hours and 4 years ago, when I was newer at
landing this fast beast, I ground-looped my 320 to prevent us from going off
the end of the runway. This was due to being downwind and very new with the
plane (pilot error). The ground loop (in the grass) caused both main gears
to collapse in the same direction with the nose gear staying intact.  The
damage was 2 totally failed over-center links and both main gear legs were
twisted and cracked open (the shiny black part).  Of course I was totally
devastated for about 12 hours, ordered new parts which came in 2 days, and
the plane and I left for OSH 7 days later.  Again, there was no other damage
to any of the fiberglass parts, only the metal parts.  My inspection of all
related parts was very detailed and the subsequent 450 hours plus 100's of
good and bad landings have also borne this out.  The "SB" part in question
certainly took a licking on that fateful day and is still ticking.  My
Lancair is a standard built kit, which might mean that I did a good job
installing it, and that the original design is not that bad after all.  I
just finished installing the phenolic strengtheners which only required
sanding, fittting, gluing, and 3-BID... a piece of cake.  It was actually fun,
as I've missed the building part a bit.

Sincerely, 
Fred NB9F (Don't fly like my brother)

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