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Does anyone know what the outside axle to outside axle width is of a sonex taildragger main gear? I'm bringing my plane home from the airport to work on it and trying to figure out if it will fit through a set of double doors. I tried measuring mine at the airport and came up with around 5'11" but it was difficult to get an accurate measurement with only one person. The door opening is 6' 1". I could always pull a gear leg off but it would be nice to know if its an issue before I get it home if possible.

Keith
#554

Might not apply as I have Tracy O'Brian legs and wheels, but I keep coming up with 5'10"-5'11". I'm a little handicapped while measuring because the "beast" is in an enclosed trailer and the square won't fit between the tire and the inside of the trailer.

Because of the camber of the tires and toe-in, the rear and upper edge of the tire is the widest point. The axles, tip-to-tip, are several inches less than the overall. Looks like the worst case scenario would involve removal of a tire to get through the door.

Thanks for measuring. I hadn't thought about the tire sticking out. I was assuming the axle was the widest part since the wheel pant mounts to the end of it. Either way it looks like I'll be just within the limits of the door and if not, pulling a wheel and moving the plane is a lot easier than pulling the whole leg.

Keith
#554

Keith, at 3:00 in this video you can see me moving my Waiex out of my basement through a french door, which had a minimum width of 71.5"

https://youtu.be/Q8QTd2HoyAM?t=3m

My wheels were ever-so-slightly wider than the door opening such that I had to put just a little angle to the plane to get 1 wheel out first, then lift/slide the nose sideways before pushing the other wheel out. I was working against a deck post outside the door that kept me from going at much of an angle through the doorway, so if you can angle the plane even more you could get it through a narrower opening.

In this picture from the video, you can see where I have 1 wheel outside and 1 wheel inside the door opening: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gSRBP7 ... sp=sharing

If only a little bit of additional clearance is needed ... would it be possible to pull the two gear legs together? They are designed to flex and as a newbie tail wheel pilot I can confirm that they do that very well!

8~)

Dale Williams
N319WF @ 6J2
Myunn - "daughter of Cleanex"
120 HP - 3.0 Corvair
Tail Wheel - Center Stick
Signature Finish 2200 Paint Job
166.7 hours / Status - Flying
Member # 109 - Florida Sonex Association