In Italy you don't need to pass any annual check with our ultralight planes, unless they are taken to a superior level in order to be authorised land in airports with low traffic (they are denominated "advanced ultralights", and must be equipped with ELT, transponder and radio), in this case, we have to carry over the maintenance according to factory's schedules, but not relying on an Civil Aviation Bureau (ENAC) authorised mechanic shop, it can be done directly by owner. BTW, in my case, for every repair or check to engine or reduction gear I take to an Rotax authorised mechanic, other things I do myself. If you are a conscientious guy do repairs only if you are sure to do them well, flying machines are no place to joke.
Old (thin) & New (thicker) in Carbon Fibre
It is much more flexible than original one, and also in torsion it is less rigid...am quite concerned about...should make some tests and see the behaviour of plane on ground. It weighs 1/2kg less than steel one, so before taking to air to check C of G position. Did not do any type of cradle, as in mine there's a reinforcing plate where leaf is attached, that is not indicated in manuals...maybe a modification? or newer S4's have it? (see photo).
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Tail resting on ground, so can be seen the flexing of carbon fibre leaf spring. Will now test it and see if it is worth the effort. Did some ground running with a friend looking the behaviour of tailwheel, and he said that with this new spring the wheel is copying ground undulations without moving plane's rear, that's seems to be really good, as is absorbing all those shocks coming from not too smooth grass strips, as well as when I did some turns both ways, he reported that leaf was not torsioning visibly...let's hope it lasts in time.
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Tail resting on ground, so can be seen the flexing of carbon fibre leaf spring. Will now test it and see if it is worth the effort. Did some ground running with a friend looking the behaviour of tailwheel, and he said that with this new spring the wheel is copying ground undulations without moving plane's rear, that's seems to be really good, as is absorbing all those shocks coming from not too smooth grass strips, as well as when I did some turns both ways, he reported that leaf was not torsioning visibly...let's hope it lasts in time.
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By the end of August he adds :
I'm really pleased with results, it works really well, absorbing all landing strip undulations, transmitting much less strain to rear fuse tubing, saving them a lot of stress...also seems to be able to cope with these efforts, have done up to now four landings and it's OK...who knows it is not the right way to go ?
[See the flatter steel one on my ca. 1990 kit S4, G-MWFW, mike.]
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