Fabric Aileron Repair

[Capt.Crash'n'Burn]

The L-3 that I'm going to be working on needs some reparis to it's flight control surfaces.

Is anyone here experienced in doing patches and other reapirs on fabric covered parts??

 

[gprellwitz]

The L-3 that I'm going to be working on needs some reparis to it's flight control surfaces.

Is anyone here experienced in doing patches and other reapirs on fabric covered parts??

Why can't you use duct tape like a normal person (in Alaska)?

 

[tonycondon]

yes...

 

[Dan Thomas]

I'll bet it needs more than fabric repair. Likely to find corroded aluminum in it, too.

Dan

 

[Capt.Crash'n'Burn]

I'll bet it needs more than fabric repair. Likely to find corroded aluminum in it, too.

Dan

Yes, but we're addressing one thing at a time here.

I'm not sure that this plane will ever be brought to an airworthy status, it just has to look good from the outside.

 

[Capt.Crash'n'Burn]

yes...

What's the best way for fixing small holes? are there patch kits?

 

[Tom-D]

What's the best way for fixing small holes? are there patch kits?

IAW the repair manual for the aircraft, or if none exists the AC43,13-1B/2A

The 43,13 gives the whole repair to fabric routines and the acceptable data for the repair you must log on the 337 for the major repair, see FAR 43. (A) for the requirements of a major repair to flight controls.

I'd just recover the whole aileron, it is just as easy, and a better job.

there are "dollar patches" if you know the fabric system already in place.

OBTW, I am a A&P-IA that recovers aircraft, see my web page at, www.whidbey.com/fairchild-nc19143/

 

[Tom-D]

I'll bet it needs more than fabric repair. Likely to find corroded aluminum in it, too.

Dan

Why would you believe that? when all aluminum under any fabric system must be primed and painted before covering?

 

[kyleb]

Why would you believe that? when all aluminum under any fabric system must be primed and painted before covering?

Must?

Naah.

 

[Tom-D]

Must?

Naah.

Yes,,, every refinishing system I know of, even the old ceconite and dope method. calls for all metal to be primed before the covers go on.

1932 Fairchild rudder shown below is primed and painted from the factory. the brown stuff ain't rust. it is old rotted glue.

 

[Dan Thomas]

Yes,,, every refinishing system I know of, even the old ceconite and dope method. calls for all metal to be primed before the covers go on.

1932 Fairchild rudder shown below is primed and painted from the factory. the brown stuff ain't rust. it is old rotted glue.

That must be why we see bare aluminum in the ailerons in brand-new American Champion airplanes. And in the wings, too. Only the spars are primed.

Dan

 

[Tom-D]

That must be why we see bare aluminum in the ailerons in brand-new American Champion airplanes. And in the wings, too. Only the spars are primed.

Dan

new aircraft can be what the manufacturers want them to be. It's still a known bad practice.

 

[kyleb]

Yes,,, every refinishing system I know of, even the old ceconite and dope method. calls for all metal to be primed before the covers go on.

1932 Fairchild rudder shown below is primed and painted from the factory. the brown stuff ain't rust. it is old rotted glue.

There are plenty of examples of stuff that gets primed before covering. I took issue with the word "must", because there are plenty of other examples where priming isn't/wasn't used. My Aeronca, for instance, didn't have any primer or paint on the aluminum components when it was built 65 years ago...

 

[Tom-D]

There are plenty of examples of stuff that gets primed before covering. I took issue with the word "must", because there are plenty of other examples where priming isn't/wasn't used. My Aeronca, for instance, didn't have any primer or paint on the aluminum components when it was built 65 years ago...

Show me a repair procedure that doesn't require it.

And I'll repeat my self, " new aircraft can be what the manufacturers want them to be.

I took issue with the random statement that a small repair will be more than that because of corrosion under the covers. There is no bases to believe that.

 

[Capt.Crash'n'Burn]

There are plenty of examples of stuff that gets primed before covering. I took issue with the word "must", because there are plenty of other examples where priming isn't/wasn't used. My Aeronca, for instance, didn't have any primer or paint on the aluminum components when it was built 65 years ago...

That's what this is. An Aeronca L-3