The Velocity Project - Page 23

The first item for this session was to remove the Matco brakes and install Cleveland brakes.  The Matco brakes had long been a potential problem on this larger version of the Velocity.  Excessive brake use by the pilot could cause overheating and deform the gear legs.  Velocity has developed an optional retrofit to install the larger, more robust Cleveland brakes shown here.  I elected to install this option, which required some re-work of the fittings.

Preliminary testing of the landing gear system was very successful.  This picture shows the nose gear retracted into the nose compartment of the aircraft, with the landing gear doors closed below.

The picture was taken from above through the access panel of the nose compartment.  The battery is to the right and the oil cooler and heating ducts to the left.

Working at the factory has many advantages, not the least of which is the knowledge and experience of the staff.  There have been a few incidents where exhaust stacks have broken at the weld joints and gone through the propeller.  In case you haven't guessed, that is NOT a good thing.  The problem has probably been solved with revised welding techniques and reinforcements, but just in case, this safety cable is installed to retain the exhaust pipe in case of a fractured weld.

Here's another change.  This is a reinforced steel linkage for the hydraulic connection to the main landing gear.

It used to be done with a steel bolt, but the A&P had noted a few older aircraft coming in with the bolts bent slightly, so he recommended this change.

I finally tackled a job I had been avoiding, the termination and connection of the antenna wires.

The aircraft has nine antennas: two navigation antennas, two communications antennas, one marker beacon antenna, one transponder antenna, one GPS antenna, one emergency locator beacon antenna and an antenna for the stereo.