Fairchild Club Forum

'Dear Members,
After an extensive annual, I've noticed a few things during the test
flight that I'd like to discuss. I bought my Temco F24R46 about a year
ago. I've done most of the inspection, cleanup, and repairs under
supervision. My first few hours are with a tail dragger instructor.
Anyway, I notice a fairly sharp clunk, almost a thud, on the first
takeoff. I'm guessing this is the gear extending.Anybody else
experience this?. Is that something that should be dealt with,or is
that the reason there's safety cables on the oleo struts. I have a few
other questions, but will start with this one.
Tom
Hanford, Ca'

'RE: "CLUNK"

The only thing that come to mind, is similar to what you thought. It may
have been the gear coming down. At least the last few inches. It seems to
me that there is a few inches of travel between where the spring quits
pushing the gear leg down and to where the strut bottoms out.

A safety cable has always sounded like a good idea. I don't have the
particulars of how it has been done. I would make it so it would become
tight at the bottom of the oleo travel.

Really the only time that I have heard of a clunk, was when the pilot rolled
the Fairchild inverted and got into some negative "G" forces. It was the
landing gear moving up then down.
Bob Etter
PO Box 974
Tonopah, NV 89049
775-482-6820
rletter@citlink.net'