Hi all

I am new to the group and have been lurking for a little while. I have not yet flown in the backcountry but soon will. I am concerned about beating the crap out of the leading edge of my horizontal stabilizer, they are metal. What is the best stuff to prevent that?

thanks

-Jon-

I know a guy who can answer that question, I'll try to remember to give him a call tomorrow. He uses a thick rubber tape and I can't remember where he gets it.

Oh goodie goodie goodie. I'm interested too. I was kinda looking around for a temporary means top protect the horistab. I don't want to put a "boot" on there again. Thanks for the legwork, whenever you have a chance, Strata!

M

A friend of mine uses the heavy black tape that he got from Aircraft Spruce. It's not rubber but seems to do a pretty good job. He has it on every forward facing surface though. Seems like a little overkill. Punkin, what kind of boot are you talking about?

Before we rebuilt the entire horizontal stab, we had a rubber protective boot glued to the leading edge. I don't know what sort of material it was - it wasn't in the logbooks. After we removed it, I decided that the boot was on there more to hide the ugly leading edges than to protect it structurally. I don't want to go that route again, especially after we did all that work reskinning and installing new leading edges.

I want something temporary... I had been thinking that maybe a couple layers of 4" blue painter's masking tape might work. I could apply it when I'm planning on landing/taking off at a dirt or gravel strip.

M

You know, another option may be to use a heavy clear tape such as the 3M tape I used for the gap seal on the elevator. No unsightly black tape, might hold dirt in the indentations though. But more than heavy enough to protect things.

Kurt,

Where did you get the 3m tape for gap seals? I'm also interested in using it for abrasion boot on the H.S.

BTW, our 206 had the black rubber abrasion boots and they were factory. Worked pretty well and kept the dings to a minimum.

Mark

Actually, I bought it from Maule. About $40 and found that I could buy it for a little more than half that with a little research.
It is without a doubt the cheapest, most effective mod on the plane yet. So I don't snivel too much about the price. But having that guage of tape on the leading edge would be a good thing.

Kurt,

Thanks, I'll check with Spruce etc. maybe even OSH. BTW, I finished the MicroAerodynamics VG's on my M4. Pretty amazing difference. But that's another story and I have hijacked this thread enough already.

Thanks Again,

Mark

Aircraft Spruce has some 3M tape that is for protecting the leading edge from dings caused by hail. They didnt say what guage it was so I didnt know if it would be tough enough.

-Jon-

Whee, I think leading edge damage from flying through hail would be the least of your problems would'nt it?

Mark, really want to know the impact of the vg's. Email me at [email protected] or throw it out here, I doubt you'd get any complaints!
Doug did his better than a year ago and had said it was some kind of good.

YELLOWMAULE wrote:Mark, really want to know the impact of the vg's. Email me at [email protected] or throw it out here, I doubt you'd get any complaints!
Doug did his better than a year ago and had said it was some kind of good.

Pirep Part #2, Mark!

O.K., here's the guy to talk to.

Bobby Graham at Glacier Airparts in Palmer, AK
907-745-7100

He has black rubber/plastic tape in 2" and 4" rolls. Just the ticket for protecting the vulnerable parts from rock strikes.

Thanks for the info, Strata!

Do you recall if the tape is a permanent application or is it temporary? i.e. can I pull it off readily?

Matt

I just got off the phone with Bob, he said the stuff they use is very much like electrical tape. Cost about 30 bucks. Or her has some clear suff they put on rotor blades that works too, $1.50 per foot.

-Jon-

Matt,

The tape is as Jon is describing, but it's about twice as thick as electrical tape and a bit more rubbery. I use it on my horizontal stab and the tape I applied more than three years ago is holding up very well. It is a temporary install but it also sticks very well and the tape is easily cut to custom widths.

Doug,

Very cool. Thanks for the info. I'll be calling Bob in the near future.

Hmmm... We did so much hard work, maybe I'll just cover the whole thing with the stuff.

Hehehe... Thanks for the follow thru.

Matt

PS. Do you know a fella named Dan Ellis - an IA down there at DVT?

Yeah, I know Dan, not real well, but we've talked now and then. He was doing a repair/restore of a C310 in the hangar across from mine last year.

My folks and Dan's folks were/are good friends. My Ma and Dan's Ma still hang out together quite a bit. He lost his Dad in a very unfortunate flying accident. It was kinda like I lost an uncle... I haven't seen Dan in years, but kinda keep up through our Moms...

I think Dan's working on a 170 and a 185 project of his own these days...

Matt