R
EVISION
:
-
D
ATE
:
12/29/04
P
AGE
:
12
Copyright
2004 Glasair Aviation, LLC Arlington, Washington All rights reserved
6-9 WING-FOLD SYSTEM
The Sportsman features folding wings and a removable horizontal
stabilizer to permit trailering the airplane to and from the airport and
storing it in a garage or rental storage unit. With the wings folded, it’s
also possible for the Sportsman to share hangar space with another
airplane. When folding the wings, there is no need to disconnect
control cables, fuel lines, electrical wiring or the pitot line.
Optional support struts that fit between the wing forward spars (near
the roots) and the lower ends of the wing struts are available to
support the wings when folded. These struts help “unload” the spar
pins, making the pins easier to remove, as well as holding the wing in
the proper alignment so that the spar lines up properly with the cage
when the wing is folded back into flight position. Another pair of
optional struts installed between the wing rear spar (near the tip) and
the vertical fin spar hold the wings in their fully folded positions to keep
them from swinging back and forth.
Since the horizontal stabilizer is longer than the legal highway width, it
must be removed for trailering. This is easily accomplished using
simple hand tools to disconnect the elevator and trim controls and to
unbolt the stabilizer from its support structure. Having an assistant
simplifies the job, only because the stabilizer is somewhat unwieldy for
one person to handle.
See Section 7-4 for a description of procedures to fold the wings and
remove the stabilizer.