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waveview
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Joined: 28 Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Location: South Bunbury Western Australia
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 Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:42 am Post subject: Do downtubes get stronger with age? |
 #1 |
Last Sunday at the local flying site I watched a pilot drop the nose on landing and was surprised that one of the downtubes bent. The glider was new.
I have done similar rough landings on my three year old wing and the downtubes have taken a wack or two without problems.
Does downtube metal get stronger with age or have I just been lucky? |
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ChattaroyMan
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Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Posts: 1797
Location: Chattaroy, WA -USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:52 am Post subject: Re: Do downtubes get stronger with age? |
#2 |
| waveview wrote: |
Last Sunday at the local flying site I watched a pilot drop the nose on landing and was surprised that one of the downtubes bent. The glider was new.
I have done similar rough landings on my three year old wing and the downtubes have taken a wack or two without problems.
Does downtube metal get stronger with age or have I just been lucky? |
I've taken out one DT on my Sport 2 in a similar landing and it had a lot to do with me coming in contact with the DT when the left DT/basetube junction hit the ground. I think the DT would have taken the impact of the drop but since I also bumped into the DT it bent 20-30º. Possibly the DT in the landing you saw had a shoulder into it as well???
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U2 160 • Chattaroy, WA - USA |
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red
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Joined: 13 Aug 2007
Posts: 2732
Location: Utah, USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sol III
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:53 am Post subject: Re: Do downtubes get stronger with age? |
#3 |
| waveview wrote: |
Last Sunday at the local flying site I watched a pilot drop the nose on landing and was surprised that one of the downtubes bent. The glider was new.
I have done similar rough landings on my three year old wing and the downtubes have taken a wack or two without problems.
Does downtube metal get stronger with age or have I just been lucky? |
Waveview,
Yes and yes.
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Cheers,
........Red.........................
Pssst! New pilot? Free advice, maybe worth the price,
http://www.xmission.com/~red/
H4, Moyes X2, Falcon Tandem, HES Tracer, Quantum |
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Manta_Dreaming
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 443
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| Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:10 am Post subject: |
#4 |
Stronger downtubes aren't a good thing, if the alternative is your arm breaking - which doesn't get stronger with age.
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Mountains always have the right of way.
If you've never forgotten anything in your life, you don't need to do a hook-in check.
You're going to die anyway so you might as well fly. |
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Odakyu-sen
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Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Posts: 129
Location: Auckland
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| Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 1:13 am Post subject: |
#5 |
Perhaps if your flying skills are improving and you're not whacking in with such forcce, your uprights will last longer. This could give the impression that they are giving stronger with age. It's just that they are being subjected to lower impacts than previously.  |
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Suneagle
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Joined: 29 Feb 2012
Posts: 185
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 2:42 pm Post subject: |
#6 |
Age improves everything!
Facetiousness on. 
Not only do your downtubes get stronger,  but your instruments work better, your car goes up the hill faster, etc. I recommend buying a well used glider and then fly it as often as possible. Before long it will be a brand new again! 
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Member of the old farts brigade: Simply sublime supine and peace of mind.
1980 - Present: McDonald Eagle 5,Moyes:- Mega 2, Meteor, GT, GTR, Xtralite, Lightspeed, Malibu.
Extassy, Airwave Magic III, Vision 5
Airborne:- trikes x 2, C4. Currently flying a REV.
Plus a whole bunch of Paragliders 2008 - 2011
Member: Canungra Hang Gliding Club - Gold Coast, Australia. |
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